Starlight Gleaming Ch. 13

He shook his head, then continued. "I knew I should have come with you as your man-servant when you joined up. Senior Lieutenant in less than a year? And to think that I supported you going into the military. I fear you have been taking too many risks, young master. For your sake, I'll do as you ask. Please do me a favor and try not to get yourself killed. I could not bear to look at your parents if something happened to you."

"I will do my best," and gave him a half-smile. "Now, turn to."

"Yes, sir!"

As Styen left, I went back to the office and rapped on the door twice. Devaal let me in.

Bilan was on the floor, cradling a trash bin. Blood ran from two small puncture marks along his neck and a third from the tragus of his ear. Based on the trickle on his shoulder, there were probably matching punctures on the other side.

He heaved, but little came up. Based on the smell in the room, he'd already emptied his stomach.

"Is he going to be all right?"

Devaal nodded to me. "He's over most of it. The hyer-teaching has that effect. He needed some technical skills to go with his new role. He'll have a blinding headache for a few hours and then want to sleep for a long time. Combined with the genetic re-coding, he will soon find it difficult to stay awake. After a night's sleep, he'll be fine. He should even have a new set of hair and matching eyebrows by tomorrow evening."

The lead security agent looked at me. "One thing, Kandikan. He won't remember, but whatever happens, he cannot be tested with truth drugs. No Imperial Security agent can. There are protocols in place to prevent that. If anyone injects him, he will die before he can speak, you can be sure of that. You are now his senior officer, so it is up to you to help prevent that from ever happening. Devaal, help him out to his family. It's time for him to go."

Devaal helped him stand, giving him a large glass of amber liquid to drink. Bilan's hands shook, but with Devaal's help, Bilan got it down, nodding and a bit steadier afterward.

After they left, the sharp-faced lead security agent gave me his name. Captain Tikleet. "When you get back from your training, I will be one of your contacts," he explained. Then he had me recite the restoration phrase that would restore Tomin's memory.

"All right, we're done," Tikleet announced.

"A moment. I get the impression you aren't very happy to be here."

He scowled. "No, I'm not. Maretta Danchotl was a murderous bitch and a dangerous menace. But Siroptic's actions cost hundreds of lives, lives that didn't need to be lost, and endangered hundreds more. The only good thing is that she's on her way to her deep cover mission, and with any luck, Supay will discover where she is and kill her."

I gritted my teeth, steamed, but said nothing. I considered all the women that Melannee Siroptic had saved, including Ixma and Cholan, and the new people in my unit -- Doyya, Chita, and Yalcamara. The sweep that Tikleet objected to had also cleansed the base of criminal graft that threatened the security of the base itself. Maretta's death had been personal for Melannee, but for the rest, I considered Melannee's actions to be patriotic. I knew I didn't like Tikleet. Now I wasn't so sure I trusted him.

"Devaal," Tikleet continued. "Finish coding the ID chip on that body with Hayantotichti's information. Sirkett? Let's go."

Without a glance, both brusquely moved past me, out of the small office, loudly closing the door behind them.

Devaal worked on his tablet a few moments. "You like Siroptic and he pissed you off."

"So?" I countered.

"Nothing. The general loves her, so he lets her get away with many things. It was his decision to support her."

"He is her lover?" I don't know why that was important to me.

Devaal shook his head. "No, they have more of a father-daughter relationship. Any more than that would be best coming from either of them, as it's personal history, and not important to the safety of the Empire. I am done here, Lieutenant. Will you be so good as to pick him up? He's going to the Condor on the tarmac."

Devaal gathered his equipment and I picked up the body bag, slinging it over my shoulder.

As we exited the office in the light of dawn, Styen pulled up and joined the last of the refugees entering the last Tortoise.

I heard Commander Barankoshto give her final instructions. "Police the grounds thoroughly. I'm going to my quarters for a three hour nap. And I better not be disturbed for anything less than a full on sortie by god-forsaken Atlanteans! Outstanding job, one and all. Ground Service!"

"Ground Service!" echoed the company of soldiers, snapping her a salute as she prepared to depart.

"Lieutenant Kandikan," the Commander barked.

"Commander?" I paused, the dead body over my shoulder.

A half-track ChoCac pulled up next to her and she opened the front passenger door. "Watch your six. You or your people need help, give me a call. I pay my debts."

"Yes, sir! Commander, if you need me or my people, just say the word."

She nodded, then got into the vehicle. "Barris? Get me out of here." The half-track turned and disappeared between the hangars.

As we walked to the big Condor, I marveled at how much work had gone into helping save people I didn't even know. I had felt right about my own small efforts to help, and I still felt right about it now. Orchid and I had helped avert a massacre. When we'd arrived in the early morning hours, hundreds of tents had stood here, with nearly three thousand people present, mostly women and children. Now, aside from the company of enlisted men and women collecting trash, the well-trampled area was empty. Even the portable showers and toilets were gone. And the streaks of dawn were just now on the eastern horizon.

As we approached the open door of the Condor, I saw that dozens of other body bags were already lined up in the rear of the transport. The second officer was there, with the flight engineer.

"You're the last one," the second officer said to us. "Just lay it on top of one of the stacks." Turning to the flight engineer, he said, "Once they're off, bring in the ramp and close it up." Then he disappeared into the cargo bay.

I dropped the body and stepped of the ramp, waiting in case Devaal needed me for anything else.

Devaal asked the engineer, "You're going to Tlee Chapinga, aren't you? Fantastic. I'll catch a ride with you then." Turning to me, he smiled. "Good luck, Lieutenant Kandikan. Maybe if we run into each other again, we can share a drink together."

"I'd like that." I gave him a salute, which he returned, then headed back to Tomin's ChoCac. I needed to make sure it disappeared into the motor pool.

As I opened the doors to the vehicle, the big engines of the Condor flared to life, and it began moving down the runway, faster and faster, building speed. Then, with a rising roar, the aircraft slowly lifted into the air, landing gear cycling into the fuselage as it climbed for the sky.

Hangar Thirty-Six was only a short distance away. I parked the sedan outside the hangar, between buildings.

My hand was on the door when I heard the distant explosion. Looking out toward the ocean, only a few rads distant, I saw the black smoke trails and burning debris falling into the ocean where the Condor had been.

The wail of alarms from the control tower began to sound, and I could see across the tarmac, crews for Air Service Search and Rescue hurrying to their aircraft, the rotary blades beginning to spin up. They would, no doubt, almost immediately be joined by Naval Service Sea Rescue.

Had Tomin kept to his task of riding the Condor, he would have died in Devaal's place. I had no doubt that the new identities for Tomin, his family, and the other four former Imperial Security were saved by Itznacoco. Still, Devaal had been decent, and I think I could have liked him. I had little doubt that the Condor and its Air Service crew had died at the order of Minister Supay.

Seven hells, I thought. All three hot, all three cold, and the one in between.

I reached for the door to the hangar, then remembered that we needed food and supplies. It was nearly six. I got back into the ChoCac and drove to the Commissary.

All of us needed extra uniforms, clothing, food supplies. Except for my daughters, I had everyone's sizes. For half an hour, I selected uniforms, undergarments, dress shoes, and so on. I bought a portable wardrobe on wheels to hold the uniforms while they were stored at the hangar, to help keep them from wrinkling. I then hired four laborers to show up at the cottage just before lunch time, and a dumpster to be dropped off for collecting the trash.

Grabbing some hot breakfasts and drinks for the adults, and a couple of treats for my daughters, I loaded up the ChoCac and headed back to the hangar.

My arms full of hot food, I slowly opened the rear door to the hangar. As I walked in, I smelled hot cahault brewing. Near the ChoCac, the camping stove had been set up. Calia and Ixma were trying to figure out how to connect the fuel canister to the stove. Both eagerly rushed to greet me.

Ixma had cleaned off a work table for holding the mess kits and such.

"Where's Anton?" I asked as they unloaded my arms. I quickly attached the fuel canister and showed them both how to release the safety so it would work.

"Sleeping in the ChoCac with the girls," Calia replied. "They woke up during the night, so he told them stories until they finally calmed down and fell asleep."

I headed back to the ChoCac.

"Where are you going?" Ixma asked.

"There's drinks to bring in, uniforms to unload, and a wardrobe to set up," I answered.

Both hurried to lend a hand. With the three of us, the supplies were quickly brought in. When we were done, and I was putting together the wardrobe, Ixma asked, "Why did you buy all these uniforms, Ranji?"

I paused and stood up. "I don't know how to tell you, Ixma, but I don't think anything in the house is salvageable. Everything of value was deliberately destroyed." Then I told them both what I'd seen in the cottage.

Tears fell from Ixma's eyes, but she surprised me and didn't break down.

I went to her and put my arms around her, kissing her forehead. "I am so glad I didn't leave you and the girls alone at the cottage yesterday. I cannot bear to think what might have happened had you and the girls been there without me."

Ixma lifted her face, her mouth reaching for me. I gave her a good, solid, passionate kiss which she eagerly returned in full measure.

"I'd love to stand her kissing you, but I need you to go to the cottage in a few hours. A dumpster and laborers will be coming by to help with clean up. You need to supervise the removal of all the destroyed possessions. See if anything at all is worth saving. Calia? I want you and Anton to help her with this today. Will you do that for me?"

Calia came over and rubbed her hand over Ixma's back. "I will be happy to lend a hand." Then she looked at me. "You haven't been to bed yet, have you, Ranji? Well, you should know that she and I haven't slept either. I'm giving you fair warning. We've been talking and getting to know each other."

I shrugged. "Fair enough. And what I'd hoped for, actually. I need to finish putting together the wardrobe, and then I need to head to work."

I moved to break my embrace with Ixma, but she grabbed my shirt. "Wait, Ranji." Her fingers removed the neckerchief I wore, and then she removed one of my grade pins.

She was wearing her own neckerchief, so I asked her, "What are you doing?"

"Making things right," she answered. Moving behind Calia, Ixma tied the neckerchief around some of her braids, making sure the grade pin was visible. Nodding in satisfaction, she gave me a quick, heartfelt kiss, then went to talk to Sisi, who was crawling out the back of the ChoCac.

I drew Calia into my arms and, with the easiness and comfort that comes from knowing a lover for years, we settled into some quiet yet heated kisses. I took off the other grade pin and put it on the other side of Calia's neckerchief. "There, now it's official. If you have any problems, you have my phone number. If you need anything, Ixma knows where the Commissary is and has a charge card to get supplies."

I grabbed spare grade pins and another neckerchief from the supplies I'd purchased at the Commissary.

Then I glanced at my watch. "I wish I could stay, but I have to get to work. Maybe Anton can finish putting the wardrobe together. If not, I'll do it when I get back."

Calia patted my chest. "Go. We will mind ourselves, and I will take care of them for you, my beloved."

Mina was asleep, so a quick kiss goodbye to Sisi, Ixma, and Calia, and I headed off to work. Since Ixma and the girls were camping inside the ChoCac assigned to me, I drove Tomin's sedan. Checking the AI, I discovered it was a newer model as well, and instructed it to change the vehicle from Imperial black to Air Service blue.

* * * * *

The day proceeded apace. My unit laid claim to a section in the building. Sergeant Chita proved herself to be a wizard with regulations, and she gave me a small smile in approval when she processed Sisi's paperwork, making her my daughter.

I talked to Sergeants Yalcamara and Matiwatli, getting updates on their work. Matiwatli made sure I knew he was grateful for me restoring part of his rank, and for taking him on. The pay difference meant that he could keep his cottage allotment with his wife and three children. I understood the gratitude, but was more interested in finding out the status of the emergency shelters. I was informed that the shelter in Logistics was not prepared for use. Boxes were empty, expired, or filled with useless items.

"Document the supplies needed and place the orders with Chita. But wait until the building passes inspection before placing the supplies in the shelter. If we don't have qualified inspectors on staff, find out what units they are attached to, and let me know by email. I want them to work with us, so that they and their reports are part of our inspections. Food and water or even oxygen recycling won't matter if the building comes down around the people inside."

Matiwatli nodded. When he was done with his report, I spent time getting to know Yalcamara and some of her team. They'd heard a bit about the action the day before through the grapevine and were eager for the chance to prove themselves.

"Poll the women of the unit, Sergeant, and find out if any of them are having trouble. The Protection Order is in place, but some people are idiots. Having a couple of our people as escorts at quitting time might ease things. And let them know I'm serious about trying to help. If someone is forcing them to have sex, I want to know about it. Keep a file, Yalcamara, and keep Chita up to date on it."

"Yes, sir."

It was nearly lunch time when a courier brought in a hand truck loaded with two large boxes.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Delivery from the Morgue. Sign here, Lieutenant."

Nodding, I stood up and looked over the paperwork. The containers with the ashes from Sisi's family in one box. And the four children from the van lay in the other. One name caught my eye.

Obodingwa Nayanoshti, male, age five. Nayanoshti was Mina's former House name. I signed for delivery, then opened up my laptop and searched the records on the boy. And there it was. Mina's older brother.

I finished my half cup of cahault and sat back in my chair, taking a long breath. I wanted to say, what if. What if we had opened the back end of the van instead of heading straight into the office? The children in the van might have lived. But how many inside the office, now alive, might be dead? Orchid had given her reason, and I believed she had made a good tactical decision. Despite the losses, we had saved sixteen children yesterday. That meant something.

Yalcamara looked at me from her desk. "Something troubling you, sir?"

"Finishing up old business," I sighed.

She nodded to the boxes. "Is that personal, sir?"

"It is. The bottom box contains the remains of Sisi's family. The top one has the children who died yesterday. I need to check the forecast, because I'd like them to be buried at the seashore before the tide goes out."

"If you don't mind, sir. It's a presumption, but it would be an honor for us to provide a military escort for you. You are now our commanding officer, Lieutenant."

I blinked, then smiled. "Offer accepted, Sergeant. Thank you."

She turned to the corporal sitting on the other side of her. "Trank, call the Naval Service. Presumably they know something about water. Our officer needs to know the high and low tides for tomorrow morning."

Corporal Trank was Yalcamara's pick as Second for the Air Security squad.

Trank smiled. "Yes, Sergeant." He picked up his phone book and began to search.

Yalcamara turned to me. "We'll find out for you, sir. We will be there to escort you tomorrow morning, bright and early."

When lunch time came, Sergeant Yalcamara insisted in accompanying me.

I had called earlier in the morning and ordered thirty meals, two more cases of juices, and more treats for the girls. I'd also spoken to Ixma briefly and she gave me clothing sizes for both girls. Then she quietly asked if I had Calia's sizes. I did not, and Ixma delighted in rectifying my lack of knowledge. I dutifully recorded the information.

"I'm just stopping by the Commissary to pick up food," I told her, "and then I'm going home to check on things."

"Perfect," Yalcamara answered. "It would be good for me to get a visual on where you live."

"All right," I replied thoughtfully.

When the time came, she stood up, buckled on her body weave and grabbed her helmet. As I stood to lift the first box, she quietly said, "Let me help, sir."

Nodding, I grabbed the handle on one side and she took the other. "Stimmi, Hodan, grab the other box and follow us. Trank, make us a hole."

The corporal got up and cleared the way. We loaded the two boxes into the trunk. Hodan was instructed to return and stay with Trank. "Stimmi, get my vehicle and let's follow the Lieutenant. And whatever you do, do not hit any pedestrians or the Lieutenant's vehicle."

"What if we see Atlantean or Vedan soldiers, Sergeant?"

"Run them over. And if they move afterward, do it again."

Stimmi grinned. "Yes, Sergeant."

I rolled my eyes discreetly. Still, she was amazingly deadpan in her delivery.

At the Commissary, Yalcamara and Stimmi helped load up the food and clothing. Then we headed over to West Seashell Lane.

Our two vehicles pulled up beside the dumpster and we got out. The laborers were hard at it, carrying out loads of trash. I spotted Calia first, and headed over to her.

When she saw me, she moved to meet me. She still wore the neckerchief that Ixma had put on her hair. Ixma had been right. It belonged there. I still dreaded dealing with Janetta about it, but I was less worried.

"How's it going?"

Calia shook her head. "This has been very difficult for her. The picture of her and her mother brought her to tears. But mostly, she's been angry, and getting angrier. The gifts you gave them, and then she saw the defaced painting in the front room. Most of the things she said she'd do to those who did this are anatomically impossible, but I have no doubt she will attempt them if she ever gets a hold of them."

I nodded. "The others will feel the same. It's a point of honor. With a good commander, one's unit is your military family. Warriors will defend their unit's name and members as fiercely as their blood kin. Ixma and her mother, Zinja, have no home outside of the Air Service. For Ixma, those who defaced their unit insignia effectively insulted everyone on the 233rd, including her mother and her officer. If the perpetrators are caught, by anyone from the 233rd, they will almost certainly be killed. If it helps to put it into context, it would be as if someone broke into my parents home and injured my mother."