Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service (22 page)

The
blonde-haired woman, who looked to be in charge, spoke up. “We’d like to use the
cross trainers. Would you mind if we took the three either side of you?”

“Uh,
no, Ma’am, of course not,” Cyndora replied, confused by the courtesy.

“Thanks.”
She turned to the others. “Ok, Mus, Stal, you get the two nearest the door.”
The two men headed to the indicated machines. Cyndora nodded, Muscovy and
Staller, two of the general’s pilots. “Entara, you get the other one on that
side.” The other woman in the group gave the speaker a cheery nod and took the
machine on Cyndora’s right. “Perl, Krel, you get the two on the far left.” The
two men that Cyndora didn’t know took up their places as the woman smiled at
Cyndora “I’m 1st Lieutenant Saphya, Hera Squadron. Nice to meet you,” and with
that she took up the machine on Cyndora’s left side. Cyndora figured that all
six were pilots and didn’t think that the way the woman with the long golden
hair had placed the others was random.  In fact they looked suspiciously like a
flanking guard.  She thought she’d try the theory out.

 “Ma’am?
If you’d all like to be together so you can chat, I’ll happily swap with one of
the gentlemen on the end,” she offered, trying to look innocent.

Saphya
waved away the suggestion. “We’re fine. We can still talk, right, Entara?”

The
woman on the other side of Cyndora nodded as she worked out. “Yes Ma’am, no
problem. Cyn… I mean the young lady isn’t in the way.”

Cyndora
nodded. They knew who she was. So, were they here as an ad hoc protection squad
or to pump her for information? From what she gathered about Staller and
Muscovy she would have guessed the latter but then Saphya had definitely
buffered her with women on either side, so maybe not.

“Do
you normally exercise around this time, Ma’am?” Cyndora ventured.

“No,
we’re still officially on leave so we’re free to come here at any time. We
thought we’d come and work off lunch,” the blonde lieutenant replied smoothly.

In
a pig’s eye Cyndora thought. “You’re part of General Crineal’s squadron?”

“That’s
right.” There was brief pause, “How is the general feeling?” Saphya had obviously
decided to give up the pretense of this being a casual encounter.

“He’s
sore but up and about, Ma’am. The doctor says it will be a week or so before he’s
fit for office duty and another week after that for flight duty.”

“That’s
good to hear. We all respect the general very much. It’s comforting to know
that he has someone to look after him whilst he’s injured. Lieutenant Feldea
says that he’s in good hands.”

“Yes,
Ma’am, I’ll be making sure he doesn’t overdo it whilst he recovers.” The lieutenant
nodded, apparently satisfied. That seemed to be about it for the questions and
although they talked amongst themselves a little, they didn’t press any more
questions on Cyndora. As she wound down her exercise and got off the machine,
the six pilots also stopped their exercises.

“Well,
time for us to call it a day, too,” said Saphya. Muscovy, Staller and Entara
made their way slowly to the door ahead of Cyndora and her guard. The other
three looked to be catching their breath for a second but then followed her to
the door. They had allowed enough time that they arrived there just behind her.
Cyndora didn’t think it was accidental. She now had three pilots in front of
her and three behind her acting as guards, and all trying not to look as if
they were doing exactly that. The marine at her side appeared amused as they
headed down the corridors back to the general’s quarters. As they approached
their destination Cyndora saw that another marine was now on duty. Her escort
took up station on the other side of the door and the pilots carried on past as
if they just happened to be strolling by. The door closed behind her.

Crineal
was still on the sofa as Cyndora returned. He wondered why she had a distinct
expression of amusement on her face. “Good work out?” he asked, putting down
the data pad.

“Yes,
thanks,” her lips twisted with a smile. “I had some company.”

“Oh?
Do tell.” Crineal looked intrigued.

“About
five minutes after I arrived, a bunch of your pilots showed up and decided they
wanted to work out on the machines either side of me. A Lieutenant Saphya gave
the impression of being the leader, but Muscovy and Staller were there too.”

“Saphya…
long blonde hair, button nose?”

“That’s
her. She asked how you were doing and said she was glad that you had me to look
after you whilst you recovered. The funny bit was that as soon as I finished,
they did, too. And three of them went ahead of me and three tucked in behind.
They just happened to be heading back this way.”

“Pure
happenstance, I’m sure,” he chuckled. “Sounds like you’ve been adopted by the
squadron.”

“Oh,
great. Now I’m a mascot, too. Do I have to parade?” She wasn’t sure whether she
was amused, irritated or touched by the thought. “Did you have a good chat with
the admiral?”

Crineal
shrugged, causing him to wince; he needed to stop doing that until he had
recovered. “Inconclusive. He’s set the court martial for four days’ time.”

“Well,
that’s something I guess.” Cyndora looked down at herself and sniffed. “Eww, I
need a shower.”

“Time
to get undressed again,” he murmured.

Cyndora
gave him one of those looks. “If you weren’t injured…,” she said darkly.

“I
told you before, no assaulting a senior officer. Shoo… go get less whiffly.”
Crineal motioned her towards the bathroom. As he watched her go, he was sure
that the swaying of her hips as she headed away was a deliberate act of cruelty
to a man in his condition.

The
following morning, Crineal woke at a more regular hour, and over breakfast
Cyndora asked if she could visit Feldea and the Rec dorm again.

“That’s
fine, I’m sure Fel missed you yesterday,” he readily agreed.

“Would
it be ok to take a little make-up with me to the dorm today, please?” Cyndora
asked.

“No
problem,” he mumbled as he ate ravenously.

“And
when I get back you get to have a shower, too,” she said wrinkling her nose.

Pausing
in his eating, he looked at her. “I’m not that bad, am I?”

“No,
but you’re getting that way. So, shower.”

“Yes,
Ma’am.”

About
an hour later, as Cyndora was looking through the menu of the main replicator,
the door comm buzzed.

“Major
Strieger here to see the general,” said the voice of the guard.

Cyndora
looked at Crineal, who was ensconced on the sofa again. He nodded at her and
she opened the door. “Good morning, Ma’am, nice to see you again,” she said as
Major Strieger came through the door.

“Good
morning, Cyndora,” Strieger said before turning to Crineal. “Good morning, Sir.
Good to see you up and about.”

“Morning,
Major. Have a seat.” Crineal gestured to one of the chairs. “Did you have a
good leave?”

“Yes,
Sir, right up until I got back here and found out you’d tried to get yourself
killed,” Strieger grumbled as she sat down.

“That’s
what happens when you go on leave and I have to keep myself occupied.” He grinned
at her.

“Kafe,
Ma’am?” inquired Cyndora.

“Thank
you, I’d love one,” she replied appreciatively.

Crineal
noticed she kept looking back and forth between himself and Cyndora. “So, to
what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Major?”

“Can’t
I just want to check on your health, Sir? As a faithful and worried
subordinate?” Strieger tried to give herself a righteous air. Cyndora held out
a cup of kafe for her and then handed Crineal a cup of tea.

Cyndora
took in the looks between the two pilots and figured it was time to make an
exit before someone suggested that she should head to the gym again. “Sir,
could I make my visit to Lieutenant Feldea now please?”

“Of
course, take the guard with you,” he said picking his data pad. “I’ll get a
temporary one.”

She
smiled at him and went into the bedroom to pick up her purse and the few bits
of make-up she’d put to one side before returning, giving him a quick kiss on
the cheek and heading off to medical section, guard in tow.

Strieger
watched all this in silence as she sipped her kafe.

Eventually
Crineal sighed. “Go ahead, Major, I’m sure you’re dying to.”

“I
have no idea what you mean, Sir,” Strieger smiled innocently at him. Crineal
growled at her. “She seems very sweet, though.”

“She
is. I like her.”

“I
knew I should have let Muscovy and Staller keep that pool going,” Strieger
murmured.

Crineal
looked at her quizzically, “And what pool would that be?”

“I
am still considered off duty, right, Sir?”

He
nodded. “Just give me it to me straight, Stri.”

“They
were taking bets on how many times a day on average you got laid, Sir.”

Crineal
sat astounded for a moment and then laughed. “I don’t know whether to court
martial them or give them a commendation for keeping me entertained with their
antics. I take it you shut it down?”

“Yes,
Sir. I wish I had asked them who pegged you for nine times a day though.”

Goggling
at that he stared at her. “What do they think I am? Some kind of holo-porn star?”

Strieger
smiled at him mockingly. “They have great faith in you, Sir. I should have just
placed a bet myself and walked off with the money.”

“Oh,
and what marvelous feats would you have me down for?”

“Actually,
Sir, I would bet on zero. And I would have taken the pool,” she said watching
him carefully.

Crineal
pursed his lips. “Do you have so little confidence in me, Major?”

“On
the contrary, Sir. I have great confidence in you. I just don’t think you’d be
taking advantage of Cyndora like that.”

“And
how did you come to that conclusion?”

“She
has a separate bed, she looks happy and secure, and you give her lots of
privileges. But the thing that convinced me most was sitting here with you.”

“And
what’s that?” Crineal asked curiously.

“You
just don’t have that happy smug look of a man getting laid on a regular basis.”
Crineal choked on his tea. “So, I had to ask myself why you’d take on a recreation
assistant, protect her and pamper her, without wanting to get her into bed. The
only thing I can figure is that she’s an old friend or lover you knew from
before you joined up.”

He
sighed. “I really need to get you your own squadron to keep you more occupied.
You’re wasted as my second.”

“I
wouldn’t say that, Sir,” she paused, “you know you’re risking an awful lot if
someone finds out about this.”

Nodding
somberly he looked at her. “I know. I just couldn’t stand to think of her in
the rec areas when I could help her.”

“Just
tell me what I can do to help, Sir. You may not be sleeping with her but you’re
looking more at peace with yourself than I’ve seen in a long time and that’s
worth anything I can do.”

“Thank
you, Stri. I surely don’t deserve someone as good as you.”

She
gave him a grin. “Well, of course not, Sir. No one deserves someone as
wonderful as me.”

He
chuckled. “You might want a word with Lieutenant Saphya though. She turned up
at the gym yesterday with a few others including Muscovy and Staller. Someone
seems to have organized a private guard force for Cyndora. I’m not sure if it’s
good intentions or something else, but if Mus and Stal are involved then I
think we should find out.”

“I’m
on it, Sir. Probably Saphy heard about Cyndora and decided to show her support
of the general’s woman. You know how protective she is.”

“Yeah,
she’s going to make a good squadron leader,” he mused.

“So,
tell me about Cyndora,” Strieger said, easing back to get more comfortable.

Crineal
took a swallow of his drink before starting. “We worked in the same office on
Earth together, before the Empire arrived. She started a few months after me.
We’re about the same age so we became friends, always chatted a lot. Sometimes
took lunch together. But that’s it. We were just really close friends. She had
a boyfriend so, even though I fancied her, I wasn’t going to intrude.” Strieger
nodded. “Then the fleet showed up and the world fell apart. She left the office
a couple of months afterwards and we drifted out of touch. I heard she’d
ditched the boyfriend.”

“And
then?” Strieger asked quietly, sensing there was more.

“The
rebels bombed my home city flat. All my family and friends were dead. I thought
I’d lost everyone. As soon as I recovered I enlisted in the Space Corps. I was
lucky and got selected for pilot training and then even luckier to be assigned
to Sarclax’s squadron. He was a general then, before the emperor made him a lord
for his distinguished service. I rose quickly under him and became his aide,
seeing things that no one else did.” He sat silently for a moment. “And then I
saw Cyndora down in that cargo bay. A part of my past I thought was gone.”