I replied, “Yes, Sarge. I guess nothing gets by you. I’m not going to ask how you knew already about the promotion. Someday, though, I expect you to reveal how so that I can improve myself just a little bit more.”
“Sure, son. Now, this is a social call, isn’t it?” he asked.
I said, “Yes, Sarge. I mostly just came to visit and let you know that I’m doing well and to see if you’re doing likewise.”
He said, “I’m touched. Well, this is part of how that kind of information is picked up. Just make social calls and read between the lines. There’s a wealth of information that people give out without realizing it. If you hadn’t made Captain, I would have judged from the excitement in your eyes that you fucked the admiral’s daughter. Have you seen her yet? Ain’t she a piece?”
I was shocked for a moment. Sarge actually seemed to know just about everything that was actually going on. “Uh, yes. I saw her for the first time this morning as I left the Fleet Admiral’s office. She is, uh, very attractive.”
“From what I’ve heard about her, she’s good in bed and likes military men,” the Sarge said.
I replied, “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t heard that. I believe you, but I’ve been busy for the most part.”
He said, “I understand. Mind you, if she offers herself, go ahead and take her up on it. I know the Fleet Admiral. He’s not going to get upset about something like that. He gave up long ago on trying to tame her down to more refined behavior.”
We sat and talked about several topics, including how the Academy was now putting through cadets with the proper credentials, especially since rich families were keeping their kids out because of the shooting war that was going on. Additionally, the Navy was losing a number of rich kid officers who were resigning daily to save their hides. Now that some of the squadrons were going into combat, with combat rather than retreat in mind, they didn’t want to see their rich asses shot off. Sarge advised me to expect a new batch of officers soon that would be moving up quickly and be more worthy of the positions they would hold.
That was perhaps the best news he could give me. It inspired me to really work at improving the tactics I was developing so that they would work properly. I didn’t want to let down these new officers who held the same ideals as myself. They were the kind who joined a Navy they felt proud of. They did so to accomplish something, not for personal enrichment and fame.
* * *
My visit with retired Admiral Cunningham was pleasant and less informative. He especially appreciated having someone drop by just to socialize, even though business was three times more active for him than before. He was selling a projectile weapon to virtually every officer now. That much was evident to me the moment I walked into the store. Almost half the stock of projectile weapons he carried was no longer there. It wasn’t the only item that was selling fast. He told me that the note pads and markers had run out once. He had to find another surplus store on Earth to get more on stock until more were produced. I was amazed to learn that they were still manufactured.
* * *
Afterwards, I stopped by Pennyweight Shipping Company, where they were also aware that I had been promoted to Captain. I was tempted to walk through the off-limits area to get to the company, but remembered that I was still a Pennyweight employee, so I used a Yellow to get around the off-limits area instead of walking the short distance.
We drank some coffee together while they brought me up to date on how the company was doing. They had lost a few freighters because of the war, but otherwise they were holding their own against the pirates and the other companies. The Edmund and Theodore were both still running fine and keeping most of the freighters protected in space. We all wished for the war to end. Then I finally left to return to base, catching a Yellow for the last leg of my trip.
* * *
That night, another return raid was visited on our base. When the scramble alarm was given, I responded to my ship despite being on leave. I was pleased to see that almost my entire crew and its officers were there as well. Only a few who were off base at the time were missing. We took off immediately, most of us undressed or partially dressed, but dutifully manning our stations regardless. When we reached space, some of the other ships that used to be part of the Mad Dogs Squadron were also there. One hollered out over the radio, “Here comes the Rust Bucket! Now we’re going to kick some butt!”
We formed up and charged immediately at the three enemy ships that managed to slip through the border. There were enough of us in space to defeat them easily without incurring heavy damage or casualties ourselves. At least that time the warning was passed on from the border patrol in space about the three ships breaking through.
The Thurman returned to port along with some of the other responding ships. Two of the other ships’ captains stayed behind to conduct practice with their crews because they were dissatisfied with their response time. We landed in our area. I left the ship, wearing only the bottom half of my mesh undies, and returned to my quarters where I was about to get in bed when the alert first happened.
* * *
As I walked in the doorway of my quarters, I didn’t bother turning on the light. I shut the door and made my way to my bed, stopping only to remove the last of what I was wearing before lying down on the bed only to suddenly discover that there was someone else in it. I could tell it was a woman almost instantly because of the contacts of her body against mine. I started to reach for the light switch near the bed.
She said, “Don’t bother with the lights. Just snuggle up to me. We’ll light up the room in our own way.”
I recognized the soft voice as that of the Fleet Admiral’s daughter. “Uh, do you make it a habit to get into someone else’s bed when they’re not around?” I asked.
She said, “I knew you’d be back soon when you finished defending us. If I hadn’t been wearing such a tight skirt, I could have caught up to you and gone along with you into space.”
I said quite sternly, “No, you wouldn’t. I will not take a civilian into battle where I would be placing him or her in jeopardy.”
She said, “My father wouldn’t have minded.”
I replied, “He might not, but I do. Just as I mind someone deciding that they can have their way simply by jumping into my bed. It’s different if I ask or the other person asks and I say yes. Now I suggest you get up and go home. I’m tired and I’d rather get some sleep right now.” With that, I went ahead and turned on the light so that she could find her clothing and leave. She looked very disappointed as she picked up her clothing and carried it with her before she realized that she should put it on first before walking outside. Then she just slipped everything on into place and walked out the door without closing it. I turned out the light. Then I got up to shut the door before returning to bed.
* * *
The next morning, I got up and dressed before leaving my quarters to have breakfast at the base Dining Facility. To my surprise, Miss Reason was still outside my quarters, sitting against a porch pillar, asleep. I stopped and looked at her for a moment before deciding that she needed to be woke up. Surely, she wouldn’t want to be seen that way by everyone who might walk by, I thought. I touched her lightly on the shoulder and gently shook her. “Miss Reason, it’s morning,” I said softly.
She opened her eyes and blinked them a few times as she looked up at me before yawning once.
“Good morning. Did you sleep out here all last night?” I asked.
“What do you care if I did?” she asked petulantly.
I replied, “I don’t know what I care. I’m just a little concerned is all. After all, you’re the daughter of an admiral. I thought that maybe you wouldn’t want to be seen like this, sleeping outside a bachelor’s quarters.”
“Perhaps you’re right. What are you doing now?” she asked.
“I’m going to breakfast. You ought to go home and have some breakfast as well and maybe get some more rest before you get up to face the day. A fresh change
of clothes would do you good as well,” I suggested.
“Why? Aren’t these revealing enough?” she asked.
I said, “Sure, but they make you look like a prostitute instead of a refined lady.”
She kind of dropped her mouth open for a moment before she decided not to say anything in reply and closed her mouth.
I assisted her to her feet before I walked away to get breakfast. When I left the Dining Facility, she was waiting outside the doorway in an even more outrageously revealing outfit.
She said, “I don’t care if you think I look like a prostitute. I like dressing this way. If you can’t stand it, I’ll start walking around naked.”
I replied, “I don’t think the Shore Patrol would like that. They’d probably arrest you.”
She said, “No, they wouldn’t. They know me and I’ve already done it before.”
It was my turn to be caught with my mouth open for a moment before I replied, “Okay. You probably could get away with walking around naked, but what’s the point in doing it? What does it get you?”
“Attention,” she said. “I want attention. I know that much about myself. I know that much about everyone. It’s no secret. Everyone likes attention. You get it the same way my father gets it. You work hard to be better than anyone else. So, why is it wrong for me to want some attention for myself?”
I said, “I guess there’s nothing wrong with getting attention. Since you know what you’re doing, then I guess you can dress just about anyway you want.”
“I’ve got a hover. You want to spend the day with me?” she asked as she changed the subject quickly.
“Doing what?” I asked. “Going to bed with you?”
She replied, “You don’t have to although I want you. Just kicking around though for the day would be fine if I can’t get you in bed.”
“I see. What do you do when you’re just kicking around?” I asked.
“It depends. You have any particular interests besides swimming, hunting, military battles, getting promoted, and making money?” she asked.
“Sounds like you’ve been doing research on me,” I answered.
She said, “So? You research everyone of your officers and crews. I know. I’ve seen you get their records before.”
“You have?” I said, a little surprised since it had been awhile since I last picked up personnel records.
She replied, “Yes. I even know how Daddy got Captain Bleyer out of the service.”
Out of my own curiosity since I didn’t yet know, I asked, “How?”
She answered, “Daddy stepped in front of a basketball deliberately to get a bruise. Then he confronted the captain with his aide as a witness and told him that he was going to charge the captain with striking a superior officer if he didn’t resign within an hour. Daddy told him that the aide would swear to seeing it happen. Daddy told me the captain gave him the resignation inside of ten minutes and left the base before an hour was up. That’s how.”
I said, “I see. Clever of your father. I appreciate him going to that length.”
She said, “Not as much as he appreciates what you’re doing.”
“Oh? Are you here because he sent you?” I asked. I immediately realized that she wasn’t from the shocked look on her face. “Okay, I’m sorry. I thought that only because of something he said to me in his office once about you. I didn’t mean to insult you by saying that you’re just his present to me. To show you I’m really sorry, I’ll take you up on your offer to just kick around for the day.”
“You will? For the whole day?” she exclaimed.
I replied, “Yes, I will. I try to always keep my word.”
She replied, “Great! Come on! We’ll get my hover and drive around for awhile. I’ll even let you drive since everyone tells me I drive like a banshee out of hell.”
I was about to correct her on the old saying, but decided that I had insulted her enough and didn’t want to wind up owing her anymore apologies. I walked along with her, trying not to notice the stares she received because of the tight shorts she wore that had high leg openings up to the hips on both sides and the blouse that was simply tied at her midriff without any of the buttons in the matching buttonholes. Only the nipples of her breasts weren’t showing and those were quite obvious through the thin fabric of the blouse. She was very tan. So much that I doubted she had any tan lines on her body. If she did, then she would have had to wear something even less than what she was wearing now in order to get them.
We walked across half the base to reach her father’s quarters where her hover was parked. She tossed me the ignition card and we got into it. I placed the card in the ignition and the engine powered up. As soon as it lifted, I put the hover into forward and drove forward a little to see how well it handled. Then I stopped and asked, “Any particular direction?”
She answered, “No. Not yet. Let’s just drive wherever you want to for now. I want to feel the wind and sun on me.”
I went ahead and drove. After awhile, she pointed. I went ahead and drove in the direction she pointed. It wasn’t long before she directed me off the base where the sentry saluted snappily at me as I drove out.
For most of the morning, I kept the hover on the main roads going where Annie pointed. After awhile, we were on the main highway where the speed limit allowed me to really open up on the hover as we flew along. Somewhere along that road, Annie went ahead and untied her blouse to let the wind and sun hit her chest fully as I continued to drive. The blouse fluttered back against the seat beneath her arms as she held them up behind her neck to support her head which she tilted up to catch the wind and sun on it as well. Her long blond hair fluttered and whirled about in the breeze as we went on down the highway. We must have gone on like that for most of an hour before she looked back at the scenery and then pointed at a turnoff.
I slowed down the hover for the turn and followed the secondary road for awhile until she pointed again at another turnoff onto an even less travelled road. I slowed down more as I took the road. Soon it ended beside a lake fed by a waterfall. In the center of the lake was an island.
“Drive over to the island and stop,” she said.
I drove the hover across the water over to the island and stopped. I barely felt the hover touch the ground when she bounded out of the car. She took off what she was wearing and dove into the water.
“Oh! It’s great today! Come on in!” she shouted at me.
I was looking around, wondering where we were and what she was up to.
“Oh, go ahead and strip! Nobody’s going to see us and if they do, they’ll be naked, too! And I won’t try to rape you!” she hollered gleefully.
I had promised to just kick around with her for the day, so I went ahead and undressed and jumped into the water. I thought that with a waterfall feeding into the lake that the water would be chilly. Instead, it was warm and very pleasant as she stated it to be. A few moments later, she was swimming on her back underwater beneath me so that I could look down at her and see everything she had to offer. I could tell several things right then about her that I wondered about earlier. She didn’t have a single tan line that I could see and she didn’t have any pubic hair. Evidently, she kept hers shaved off. I wasn’t sure if I liked seeing a woman without pubic hair or not. However, it also make me wonder whether she was a true blond.
When she surfaced, she said, “If you’re wondering whether I’m really a blond, the answer is yes. You have that puzzled look on your face. I’ve seen Daddy with that same strange look before, so I know how to recognize it. And no, I’m not a virgin. I’ve been with men before and I’ve liked it each time. Oh yeah, I’m taking precautions, but I’d be willing not to in your case if you change your mind.”
I felt then like she had been reading my mind. She had just answered the only thing I didn’t know about her so far that puzzled me. I was also curious about why she knew so much about me. I wondered how much more she knew.
She said, “You swim well for someone
from an area where they don’t have much water.”
Right then, I knew that she had been doing research on me. “Do you do as much research on every man you meet?”
She replied, “No. Just the one I’m interested in. The other men I had were mostly for experience.”
Right then and there, I realized she had an agenda and I was it. She wasn’t looking just to get laid by me. She was looking for something more. The only thing I could think of was a long term commitment, otherwise why else would she be so agreeable to my not wanting to have sex the way she tried to do last night? I stopped swimming and merely treaded water as I let my thoughts sift through the information I now had about Miss Annie Reason.
She asked, “Did you know, Captain Oden, that if the war ended today and you stayed in the military that you’d could become an enlisted non-commissioned officer just like Sergeant Clark, only with more rank than him?”
I was surprised that she knew of the Sarge. I asked, “What do you mean just like Sergeant Clark?”
“He was an officer before with a temporary commission just like yours. Didn’t you know that?” she asked.
I shook my head as I answered, “I don’t do research on my friends ordinarily. I accept them on their attitudes and personalities alone.”
She said, “You ought to look up his record. It’s interesting reading. He rose to Lieutenant Commander fighting the pirates when they were real bad. He was mostly responsible for wiping them out. Then when most of the pirates were dead, the military downsized. He stayed in the service and became a sergeant.”
Suddenly, I realized that Annie was a storehouse of information. She might even have information about some of the other things I’d noticed before. She had certainly told me a few things that I didn’t know about.
“What do you know about that court-martial that ended suddenly with a dismissal?” I asked.
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