Starlight Gleaming Ch. 17

"Seven hells," I replied when he paused. I'd already promised Ixma that Tonca was going to die. My reasons to kill him kept growing.

"There's more, and it's bad," Killayana continued. "We've had seven murders, one a week. All the victims are women. All with a card that demands the Unit Protection Orders be rescinded, and a promise that more will die until their demands are met. Of course it's gotten out. "

"I see. The two women who were killed on the bus. Who were they?"

"Corporal Rilli Sayocharda and Private Sosha Payyes. I'm told that you knew both of them."

"I did. What happened to their bodies?" Seven hells! I remembered them both from that day that now seemed so long ago. Doyya was the third of the three. All three were in the Air Service trying to better themselves and were continually preyed upon.

"The commander gave them a military funeral. Their ashes were sent home to their families. What do you plan to do?" he asked.

"Lieutenant, I intend to clean out all the filth in my division as best I can. Thank you for the information."

"I will keep this call on the QT."

"Thank you."

"Safe flight and safe return, Lieutenant. Killayana out."

I closed my phone and stared at my computer screen. Slamming the lid closed, I got up and exited my suite.

I hadn't been there to help protect them. Hadn't been there to help fight what was going on at High Guard. Instead, I'd been under the mountains getting tortured by mad men. While people under my command were hurt or killed by yet more mad men.

Searching out the nearest guard post, I inquired as to the location of their master at arms.

"What do you need to see him for, sir?" The guard looked at me with some concern.

"Cleaning supplies. I need to clean my weapons. And get more ammunition for my rifle."

They gave me directions, and I set off. I was so angry at the state of affairs at High Guard, I stalked about, willing myself to ignore the aches of protesting muscles. I needed to figure out what I was going to do. How I was going to kill Tonca and anyone else involved with the murders, the rapes, and the beatings of the women, and do it so I didn't get shot by Voyacherno or one of his men.

I knew that Orchid hadn't had a chance to dig out the child trafficking ring. She'd cleaned out those involved with the drug plot, handled the graft, embezzlement, and thieving, but hadn't had time to dig any deeper before she'd had to flee for her life. I wanted to talk to Melannee right then. For advice, if nothing else. But she was gone undercover, and hopefully she was safe from Supay.

I almost ran into Bilan. Literally.

"Ranji! I called after you, and it's like you didn't even hear me. Something's gotten you riled up. What's going on?"

"I need cleaning supplies for my pistols and my rifle. And, I could use more rounds for my rifle."

"This couldn't wait until after breakfast?" he asked, turning me around, pointing me back to the house.

I realized I was on the driveway, heading down the road to the Ground Service base.

"Tell you what," he said. "I need to do my weapons, too. We'll clean them after breakfast together, all right? And maybe have some of that talk we need to have?"

He held my arm, looking intently at me.

Giving an exhale, I deliberately made myself calm down, then gave him a smile. "All right, Bilan. If you insist-- Hey, you have your captain's diamond! Congratulations, again! Should I be hurt that you didn't let me pin them on you?"

Relaxing, he smiled as he clapped my back. "No, you shouldn't. Rana put them on. I like you well enough, Ranji, but I like her much better than you."

I laughed. "Fair enough. She must have been proud to put them on you."

"She was indeed. Told me she is the proudest captain's wife in all the Ground Service."

"I can believe it."

We passed through the door checkpoint and re-entered the house. It was nearly time for breakfast, so we both washed up and headed to the dining room. A servant brought us both cups of freshly brewed cahault.

We were chatting about our children when Ixma and Calia entered the room. Ixma carried Sisi's little backpack, and it looked like it was heavy. My daughter, Sisi, was between them, and her head hung down.

"Good morning, Sisi!" I turned my chair to face her. "Thank you for going on my run with me today."

Calia scrunched up her face and looked away. I was going to ask her about it, but Ixma nudged Sisi. "Go on, tell him what you did."

"I'm sorry, Tenant! I didn't know it was a mean trick!"

"Sorry about what? What was a mean trick?"

Ixma set the pack down onto the table. It made a considerable thump against the wooden surface.

"Uncle Styen said to use that pack when you were here."

"Oh, he did, did he?" I pulled the pack over, surprised by its heaviness. I opened the flap. Alongside a water bottle and a few snacks, there were several weights. I pulled them out, one by one. Three soft packs, ten pounds each. Two more, five pounds each.

Forty extra pounds at a full run. Some of it uphill, with some parts at twelve percent grade. I didn't feel so bad about my run anymore.

I turned the smaller ones over. Noticed that one of the fivers had Tlacotli written on it. I stared at it.

Bilan picked one of the tens up. "Uh, don't know how to tell you this, Ranji, but this one's mine."

I stared at him. "Really!"

"There's another extra ten pounds on the harness, Ranji," Calia added.

I sat back into my seat and took a long, slow drink of cahault, letting the chocolate and coffee flavors fill my mouth. Pondering over the fact that I had been the subject of several independent pranks on my first day back home.

"You gotta admit, this is pretty hilarious," Bilan offered hopefully.

"Are you mad at me, Tenant?"

Picking her up, I sat her onto my lap and hugged her. "I'm not mad at you, Sisi. But next time, don't do that."

Bilan sat back and laughed quietly at me.

"As for your Uncle Bilan, well, it's a good thing he's a grown up." I turned to look at him. "If my little brother did that when we were kids, I'd give him such a wedgie, it would take him a week to get it unstuck!"

"What's a wedgie?"

"A mean trick that you should never do to other people," I told her. It wasn't really an answer, and I could see that thought crossing her almost five-year-old mind.

My mother chose that moment to enter the dining room. "Ranji Kandikan! You shouldn't be telling Sisi about wedgies! A disgusting and cruel practice designed to humiliate and intimidate, and that sort of behavior is not allowed in this house."

I sighed. "Yes, Mother. Calia? Will you put these things away? And if possible, return the weights to their owners. Ixma? Where's Mina?"

"Mina's with my mother." Ixma sat beside me. "Sisi, shouldn't you go sit at your seat?"

Sisi seemed to be quite happy sitting on my lap, leaning against me. "Mama Zinja's not here yet. Can't I stay longer?"

I started to tell Ixma that Sisi was fine where she was, but thankfully I realized that would have been a mistake. Ixma was her big sister and effectively another parental figure. If I countermanded her instructions, I would undermine Ixma's authority. Chain of command is important. Worse, I would show Sisi that a man's authority surpassed a woman's, which would be a subtle undermining of Janetta's authority and the other adult women in my household as well. Oh, the subtle permutations of discrimination!

So I wrapped my arms around Sisi and gave Ixma a big pout. "Please, Ixma? Can't she stay just a few moments more? Pretty please?"

"All right. Just until your mama comes in. Okay?"

Sisi grinned at her, and we thanked her, then grinned at each other.

"Will you read to us tonight before bed, Tenant?"

"Would you like that?"

"Of course! I missed you, Tenant. Mina does, too. She just doesn't 'member."

"Remember," Ixma automatically corrected, taking the seat on my left.

Sisi rolled her eyes. "She doesn't remember."

"It's a date, Sisi. You and Mina, a bedtime story," I told her. I caught my mother's smiling gaze as she watched our exchange. I winked at her, and buried my nose in my daughter's hair.

Other people filtered into the dining room. Rana and the boys took chairs by Bilan. Cholan found a seat. Zinja brought Mina to Ixma, then sat on the other side of her daughter. Janetta sat on my other side. Like myself, Janetta and all her crew wore their class B uniforms. Calia returned and found a seat beside Cholan.

In between, three servants rolled in carts with dishes, silverware, and napkins, as well as trays of food both hot and cold. A veritable feast. I was reluctant to let Sisi go, but saw that she happily went to her seat next to Zinja, who greeted her with a kiss to her cheek, a beaming smile, and a whisper into her ear.

Ixma saw my look and nodded. "She told Sisi that she is the luckiest mama in the whole world to have such a good girl to love."

Sisi turned to her. "Momma Zinja said she was lucky to have three good girls to love. Me, you, and Mina. She whispered it, so it's supposed to be a secret, and you shouldn't tell secrets."

There were several amused smiles, and Ixma was surprised at the rebuke.

Zinja laughed. "It's all right, Sisi. That's a secret I am happy to share. What else is important about secrets?"

"That if the secret makes me feel bad or afraid, I tell you or one of the grown-ups in our family."

"Who are the grown-up in your family, Sisi?" my mother asked.

Sisi grinned. "You are, Grandma! So is Momma Zinja, Ixma, Calia, Aunt Cholan, Captain, and Tenant. Uncle Bilan. Aunt Rana. Oh, and Grandpa and Uncle Styen, too!" She looked at Zinja for confirmation.

"Very good, Sisi," Zinja told her. "Now eat your breakfast."

A surprise entry to the table was the arrival of Captain Harketsi, who quietly entered and claimed a seat. My mother greeted him and he replied courteously, but he decidedly ignored me and Janetta.

Janetta returned the favor.

The food, as usual, was good, and was a mix of Vedan and Queschuan dishes. I was surprised and pleased to see that besides eggs, we also had kheer, a boiled rice and milk dish, with dried bits of starfruit and chopped cashews. Raisins and pistachios were the traditional additives, but were rather expensive, as they have to be imported via the East Islands. Besides, I was used this version of kheer.

Bilan announced that he had a new entertainment video for the children to watch while Captain Tlacotli and I went to the base to get our weapons cleaned. "After the movie, a Tortoise will be here to pick up Lady Kandikan, the Captain's Flight Crew, and Ranji's daughters and my sons to spend time at the pre-school."

"There's a pre-school nearby?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course," Rana said. "With all the Ground Service personnel and the servants, it makes sense to share resources."

"How's Meeno and his family?" I asked Bilan.

"I checked on them a bit ago. They are eating in the servants' area and are overwhelmed. He's going out this afternoon to start looking at properties for sale."

"Thank you."

"It's nothing, my brother."

The rest of the meal was pleasant and passed quickly.

Ixma and Rana took the children to watch the video, and my mother joined them.

Once we were back in my suite, Calia and Zinja collected dirty laundry for washing. Janetta dug out her pistol, and I emptied most of my duffle bag, digging out my Caiman and the rifle. All three of the women took notice of the LRS-12, but said nothing.

I could tell Janetta was agitated with me. She paused by me on her way out, growling, "You'd better come clean soon, Ranji, or there will be grief to pay." Without waiting for a response, she stalked out.

Zinja gave a worried look at the doorway, then looked at me.

"Don't worry," I assured her. "I'll deal with it. Later, when the rest of you get picked up, we'll have a long talk while the kids are engaged elsewhere."

"Yes, sir," was her quiet reply.

A quick kiss to both women, and I headed out after Janetta.

As I exited the house, a ChoCac pulled up. Bilan already sat in front with a driver. Janetta and I entered the back seat. Bilan turned to look at us with a grin, but he saw Janetta's dark cloud and my frown and turned away. With a wave, he told the driver to go.

The Ground Service company was set up near the house, about five rads down the hillside from our home. It had its own access to the main road. The small base had a heavily fortified perimeter, cleared of trees and brush, with tank barriers along the barb-wire fence. As we passed through the checkpoint, I noticed that on the other side of the small base was a control tower, and I could see a few hangars in the distance, as well as the runway for the Sunskipper.

The ChoCac sedan pulled up to a concrete building and we entered. Bilan led us past an open work area, and past some offices to a conference room.

Standing inside the room was a first sergeant that Bilan introduced as Kwakiti, a master-of-arms. Large, tan tablecloths were laid out on two tables, and laid out on both tables were assorted screwdrivers, brushes, and oils. When I opened up the duffle and laid out the rifle, the sergeant asked to look at it. I let him, and he gave it a practiced examination.

"No carrying case?" he asked me.

"The one I was given was compromised. Any suggestions?"

He grinned. "Let me take a look in the stores and see what I can find, sir. Back after a bit."

As he prepared to exit, Bilan called out to him. "Get him a shoulder holster for the Caiman while you're at it. And three fully loaded magazines as well. The Lieutenant likes to be well armed."

"Yes, Captain," he said as while exiting the room.

Folding her arms, Janetta almost snarled at me. "Okay, Kandikan, spill it. Now."

I quickly broke down the rifle and laid it out onto the cloth. "What in particular do you need to hear first?"

"You were at the hospital at Mohingo. What were you doing there, and why were you in the hospital? I thought your training was south from your parents' place."

"I was given a mission after I left my training. After I completed it, I went to see your mother."

"You what?" She grabbed me and spun me around, getting into my face. "What part of 'No Contact Order' do you not understand, Lieutenant? What are you? A fucking moron? You had no damned right doing that! No right at all. Who gave you the right to stick your nose into my personal business! How dare you do that behind my back?"

"Because I love you, Janetta."

"What kind of idiotic excuse is that?" she yelled, her nose nearly touching mine. "I ought to kick your miserable ass from here to High Guard and back again!"

Frowning, I just stared back at her.

"Well? Nothing to say?" she demanded, glaring at me.

"Go on. Get it out," I told her quietly.

For almost three solid minutes, she let loose a stream of more swear words, foul invectives and descriptions about me. A short breath, then she screamed at me, "I told you I wasn't ready! Instead of respecting my wishes, and respecting me, you stick your busybody nose into my personal business. So what gave you the right to do an end run around me, Lieutenant? Answer me, damn you!"

"I still love you, Janetta," I said quietly. "That was a good part of what helped me make it back home."

There were two sharp raps at the closed door.

Bilan, half sitting on one of the tables, arms folded as he watched us, called out, "Enter!"

A Ground Security sergeant entered, his stunner drawn. Behind him was his partner, similarly armed and ready. "Captain Monaycote, sir, is everything all right?"

"So far. Senior Lieutenant Kandikan has just returned after fifteen weeks of being away from home. Captain Tlacotli was just telling him how much she missed him. Because when I found my brother two days ago, he was dying and we almost lost him."

Janetta looked startled, then stepped back, her face a riot of emotion. Then she turned away, both hands fisted.

The sergeant looked at us, then back to Bilan. "Just call us if you need us, sir."

"We don't need any help, do we, Captain Tlacotli?" She didn't answer. "I thought not. Thank you, Sergeant. There may be more yelling, but we'll be fine."

The sergeant quietly closed the door and the three of us were alone again.

Janetta and I stood where we were.

After a few moments, Bilan cleared his throat. "Ranji, being as she hasn't resumed tearing you a new hole, I think it's fair to assume it's your turn to speak."

I looked at her, raising my eyebrows. "Do I get a chance to speak now, Janetta?"

She gave me a grudging nod.

"How much to tell you both now? It's a long tale, and not one I really want to repeat more than once, and mostly because it's personally difficult." I took a long breath. "I admit that I did know about the No Contact Order. When we first met at Tikún, I looked up your personnel jacket. Not very admirable, I know, but after our first intimate meeting, I was confused by your distance afterward, and I wanted to know more about you. I also saw that there was an order from the Minister of War himself that you and your mother be watched, to make sure you remain safe. Once you entered the Air Academy, that oversight ended for you, but as long as she never remarried, it should have remained in place for your mother."

Janetta nodded, obviously irritated. I wasn't telling her anything new. I continued.

"I was on my way home when I arrived at the bus depot in Kachotl. I saw the name of the town you grew up in on the list of destinations, and I bought a ticket. Why? Good question. I'd been pushing you about your mother, but I knew nothing about your reasons why you wouldn't talk about her, and why you cut off all contact. And yes, I did go against your wishes, and you've let me know how you feel about that. In my defense, I needed to know if I was doing right by you. If your mother was some harridan or a crazy, cruel woman, then having no contact made perfect sense. And before I left, you as much as told me you were thinking about your relationship with your mother. You told me you'd treated her badly.

"Anyway, on my way to Uiyatiwitz, I ran into the farming family. They had lost everything due to drought. It was presumption, but I figured that if I liked your mother, I'd pay a couple hundred credits each month for them to have a home, keep their farmer status and have a chance to save some money for a place of their own someday. In the meantime, they would help out your mother. If I didn't like your mother, then I'd bring the family back home with me, and set them up near here."

I looked at Bilan. "Because of the rampant graft and corruption, the farmers in Huezteca are slowly being starved out by a ruler who should be taking care of his people. Without ready access to fresh water, the city itself is dying. I couldn't see leaving Meeno and his family there.

"I met Meeno's wife first. I was sitting alone on my seat on the bus. Because I wore a uniform, no one would sit near me. She had a heavy pack on her back and carried her infant son in front. But despite her heavy burdens, she stood in the aisle. When I offered her the seat next to me, she wanted to know what I wanted in return. What does that say about our people if a simple kindness is met with suspicion? Or, maybe it's just that their experience with the Warrior Caste is nearly always one of abuse. Anyway, we arrived at your mother's house, and she wasn't there. Do you remember your next-door neighbor, Teela?"

Janetta rolled her eyes. "A nosy, busybody always trying to tell me how a proper woman should behave."

"Huh. Well, I think she's mellowed some. Teela was taking care of your mother. Apparently the local street gang made regular visits to your mother's home, robbing her, injuring her, and probably much worse -- though neither your mother nor Teela would talk about it."