Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service

by Raymond L Jennings

The smile dropped from his face. “Yeah, they did. And I wasn’t that happy about it at first. Until the rebels came to help ‘liberate’ us.”

  “The bombing of Coventry… you were still there,” she said in realization.

  Crineal nodded. “Yes. I was, and my family were, and my friends. They weren’t there afterwards, though,” he finished grimly, remembering the terror of the flames and the explosions as his apartment was destroyed around him.

  Cyndora put her hand to her mouth. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Chris. But it was a mistake. They told us all about it. The rebels only meant to destroy the new imperial factories there and some target markers were misplaced. It was all a horrible accident.”

  He looked at her coldly. “Is that what they told you? The rebel commanders?” She nodded mutely. “Well let me tell you what I know. I’ve seen the Space Corps recordings and report of the attack. The rebel bombers came in and first bombed the main arteries in and out of the city to restrict movement to and from the city. No evacuation out or aid in. Then they swept across the whole city east to west, carpet bombing it with high explosives and incendiaries. The conclusion of the report was that the raid was designed to not only take out the factories, but create injuries, a lot of dead bodies and instill fear in anyone supporting the Empire or living near Imperial facilities.”

  She shook her head in denial. “It wasn’t meant to be like that!”

  Crineal snorted derisively. “Of course it was. They have the same tech that we do. If they wanted to just destroy the factories they could have done that. Even the major Earth militaries could have done that fifty years ago. If they just wanted to destroy the city, they could have done that, too, just like London or Washington. But that wouldn’t have left survivors to spread fear, or dead bodies to be dug out of the rubble and put into mass graves. It was a calculated exercise in terror. I spent a day buried in rubble. And I was lucky, I guess. I got out alive, unlike my parents and almost everyone else I knew. I signed up for the Space Corps as soon as I got out of hospital.”

  Cyndora was on the verge of tears. “The rebels aren’t like that, they’re fighting Imperial tyranny. You don’t know what it’s like down there now…”

  He looked at her stonily. “So tell me. Tell me what made you join the rebels?”

  She was crying now. “I had gone out shopping. Whilst I was out the Imperial Security forces did a sweep through our area. When they came to our house my mum didn’t want to let them in. They knocked her down and kicked open the front door,” she sobbed. “My sister was home and tried to protect her. They beat her senseless and left them laying there whilst they wrecked our home looking for rebels. Mum and Andrea were in hospital for two weeks. I didn’t actually start helping the rebels until years later, though, and I never did anything to hurt anyone. I know some who did, but I didn’t want to. I just wanted the Empire gone.”

  “And now here we are,” Crineal said wearily. “You, the rebel convict and me, the Imperial butcher. That’s what you think of me, isn’t it?” She looked at him mutely, her face red from her crying. “When I saw you get out of the shuttle yesterday, I couldn’t believe it. I thought everyone from my past was gone, and there you were. And then I had this crazy idea that maybe I could do something to help. Get you out of the rec areas and make things a bit easier for you,” he paused to think of how to continue.

  Cyndora glared at him with tear-filled eyes and spoke before he had a chance. “Having you screw me every night instead of a bunch of thugs down in the rec area is your idea of making things easier for me?” she spat.

  Crineal’s face hardened. “So that’s what you think I’ve become? A rapist as well as a butcher?” He stood up and dropped his helmet onto the seat behind him. “Fine, my mistake for trying to help someone I cared for.” He turned his back on her and went over to the comm unit by the door. She watched tearfully as he keyed in some things but couldn’t see what. Then he stepped back and retrieved his helmet before looking at her once more. He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb towards the comm unit. “There, I’ve set up a request for Recreation Division to come and return you to your dorm as you don’t seem suitable after all. All you have to do is hit the green send key. You can go back and get more justification for hating Imperials and I can get on with running my squadron and trying to make things better. I’m going to have a shower and get changed. You do whatever.” She looked up blearily as he stalked past her and through the door into the sleeping area. It slid shut behind him and he disappeared from her view

  Crineal stood under the hot water stream in the shower, cursing himself for a fool. He had actually imagined that just because he knew her from before, when they were close friends, that she might be glad to see him now? Stupid man! Losing Bannerman and Rochelle, seeing Feldea that badly hurt and the injuries to the rest of his pilots must have upset him more than he thought, he realized bitterly. He should have just taken Strieger up on her offer and given her a tour of Earth. They could have stayed out of bed and kept it within regs, maybe… maybe not. They were both pretty strung out right now. One wrong gesture or word and they would have ended up between the sheets. A not unpleasant image of Strieger writhing and gasping in passion under him entered his mind. Crineal shook his head clear of that, the consequences would be entirely too unpleasant. He sighed, turned off the water and turned on the dryer. Once he was dry Crineal left the shower and hung up his flight suit before putting on his uniform, still berating himself for behaving like some damn fool white knight rushing to a damsel’s rescue. He should be far too jaded for that nonsense by now. He sealed the front on the jacket up to his left shoulder and went back into the lounge area. To his surprise, Cyndora was still there, but standing by the comm unit. He supposed that Rec Division must be busy with the inductions.

  Cyndora sniffled, her face still blotchy from crying. “Sir? Chris? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that last bit. I was… was angry and upset. I know you’re trying to help me.” He looked over her shoulder and saw that the message to Rec was still there on the screen, unsent. “I’ll go if you want me to, but I think I’d rather stay. Here, with you.” She looked at him pathetically.

  Crineal studied her for a long minute, trying to decide if she was being genuine or had just come to the conclusion that life here, even if it meant sharing his bed, was going to be better than being down in the Enlisted Rec. He finally decided it was the former, probably. He moved over to her, reached out over her shoulder and hit the ‘cancel’ key. Crineal saw her flinch before she turned and saw the ‘Message Canceled’ flash on the screen. Cyndora sagged visibly. Crineal took her by the arm and guided her to one of the easy chairs, and then he went on into the kitchen area. He came back a minute later with a glass of water and a pill. He held both of them out to her.

  Cyndora took the glass and looked at the pill uncertainly. “What is it?” she sniffled.

  “It’s a powerful aphrodisiac and will reducer, so I can have my way with you,” Crineal looked solemnly at her and then cracked a slight smile. She gave him a weak grin in return, took the pill from his hand, popped it in her mouth and washed it down with a gulp of water.

  She looked up at him, still clutching the glass. “So what was it really?”

  “It was a very mild sedative to calm you down.”

  “Oh.” Cyndora took another sip of water as Crineal seated himself in the other easy chair and watched her as he propped up his head with his right hand. Her breathing finally steadied and Cyndora looked up at Crineal. “I really am so sorry about what I said Chris… Sir.” She didn’t know how to address him. “You must be hurting at least as much as me over what happened to our families.” Cyndora took a breath. “So what do I have to do?”

  Good question, Crineal thought, he hadn’t even got as far as figuring that out. He’d been so focused on just getting her away from Rec Division that he hadn’t given the day-to-day stuff any thought at all. “Well, let’s see… umm… you can keep the place tidy and clean,” he sai
d looking around his spartan quarters. Yeah, that would take her all of five minutes a day. “Ahh, prepare our meals.” Another one minute. “Just keep me company when I’m off duty, I guess. Oh, there’s also the entertainment unit.” Great plan, he thought, you’re a real strategist. Cyndora smiled a little at his awkward answer, it was just typical of the Chris she had known, do good first and figure out the details afterwards. “What were your duties and schedule down in Rec supposed to be?” he cringed to himself even as it came out, knowing what part of her job was.

  “We hadn’t been given anything specific yet. I was told that I had to exercise and shower every day and, apart from that, ‘entertain’ the crew, I guess,” she replied quietly.

  Wincing at the emphasis on the word ‘entertain’, he tried to move past the implications of that. “Ok, hmmm, having you go down to the rec dorm exercise area seems stupid. You can use the flight crew gym with me every day. I suppose we need to make it look like you’re carrying out your duties and staying fit. If you show up with me it will make you look more like an obedient pet.” She gave him an indecipherable look. “Sorry to have to put it that way, but it’s true and the appearance will matter.”

  Cyndora thought about it and nodded and then looked down at her toga. Crineal followed her gaze. “Yes, not really suitable for exercising, is it?”

  She shrugged and took another drink of water. “The other assistants exercise naked.”

  Crineal almost went cross-eyed at the thought of her jogging, naked. Quit that!! “I’ll set up access to the replicator for you and allocate a budget for some extra clothing. Lots of officers do that for their personal recreation assistants.” Cyndora didn’t have to stretch her imagination as to the nature of the likely clothing the others would be getting. “I figure a sports bra and matching shorts with some running shoes would be about right. Also you can order some day wear for around here. Whatever would make you feel comfortable.”

  “You don’t want me to wear this?” she asked, indicating the short dress.

  Crineal shook his head. “Only if I have a scheduled meeting so as to keep up appearances. If anyone drops by unexpectedly then they won’t be able to enter if I’m not here to give permission. Unless it’s the admiral or the ship’s captain and the chances of them dropping by are so remote as to be non-existent. So you’ll always be able to slip into the bedroom and change before I let whoever it is in. Apart from that, you wear what you want.” He paused, thinking about his routines. “Oh and once or twice a month I hold a small dinner party for my pilots. I have a roster and vary the invites each time so I can get to know them all a bit better off duty.”

  “I’ll wear this then?” Cyndora asked.

  Crineal cocked his head at her and thought about it. “No, I have a certain reputation about how I feel towards recreation assistants being forced to show their bodies. I’m trying to lead by example and just your being here is undermining that. But that’s something I’ll have to work on.”

  Cyndora looked at him curiously. “And does it work?”

  He nodded. “Mostly. If I find out one of my pilots has been brutalizing any of the assistants then I have them transferred immediately. Although it’s technically against regulations, the justice department aboard ship views it as acceptable so I can’t discipline them; moving them out is the best I can do. The attitude is spreading through the other squadrons, but it’s slow.” Crineal shrugged a little dispiritedly.

  “At least you’re trying. So what do you want me to wear?”

  “How about office wear? Blouse showing a little cleavage, mid-thigh length skirt, nylons of your choice, moderate heel shoes? Smart, attractive but not flaunting anything?” he looked uncertain as he spoke.

  Cyndora shrugged. “That sounds ok. It’ll be better than this.” She sat there for a moment. “I should wear my uniform if I’m out of these quarters, otherwise?” Crineal nodded “And if I’m on my own and I’m stopped and asked to ‘entertain’ someone?”

  Crineal’s eyes hardened a little. “The only people who have the authority for that are the admiral and ship’s Captain Aldar. If anyone else tries anything, you tell them who you’re assigned to and report it back to me. It doesn’t matter what threats they use, they can’t do a thing.”

  She looked reassured. “And I call you Sir in front of others?”

  He nodded again. “You still call everyone Sir or Ma’am, I’m afraid.”

  “How much authority do you really have?” Cyndora asked curiously.

  Crineal gave a small shrug. “I’m the third highest ranking officer in this strike force. I’m outside of the regular chains of command as I lead the small craft forces. I only answer to Captain Aldar and Admiral Ken’Rathel. Plus, I have a reputation to back me, so I guess I have a bit. That’s why no one should be stupid enough to mess with you once they know who you’re assigned to.”

  Hearing this made Cyndora feel a lot more secure. Then she braced herself and asked. “And where do we sleep, Sir?”

  Crineal stared at her steadily. “You can sleep where you choose. I was going to suggest I order up a cot bed from Supply and place it in the bedroom.”

  She digested this idea for a moment. “You don’t want me to sleep with you?”

  He snorted. “There’s a leading question. I’ve always liked you, Sam, you know that and I can’t imagine I would have turned down that offer before. But here? Now? No, not if you come to me out of duty or gratitude. To me it would still be rape. You decide you want to share my bed because you like me, then we’ll talk.”

  Cyndora thought about that. Sleeping with him wouldn’t make any difference to her after what she’d already been through and deep down she knew she owed him. But she understood what he was saying as well and, if nothing else, he deserved her honesty. “The cot bed sounds good, thank you.” The redhead put on a brave smile. “I can always come and cuddle up to you if I get cold.”

  He smiled back. “On those long winter nights in deep space, huh?”

  She gave a little laugh at the absurdity of that and tried to remember when she’d last laughed. Her stomach gave a little growl.

  “When did you last eat?” Crineal frowned at her.

  “This morning before the safety lecture. I even had a bit of a choice for breakfast. It was good. I didn’t think we’d be allowed things like that.” She had opted for the scrambled egg and bacon hash and been amazed when it actually looked and tasted like potato, egg and bacon. And there was fruit juice, too. The meals on board had been the first time she’d had anything resembling real food since her arrest. Prison fare had been all protein pastes and mush. Nutritious, but not food.

  “How about an early dinner then, whilst I order a bed from supply? Then I need to go and check on some of my pilots that are still in the med bay. That will give you a chance to order up some clothes whilst I’m out,” Crineal suggested with a warm smile.

  Cyndora thought his smile always looked a bit goofy but endearing. “That would be great.”

  He stood up and led her into the kitchen and the food replicator unit. “You’ve used one of these?”

  She nodded. “Yes, they started to become a little more common on Earth a couple of years ago. We had a basic one. This looks a lot more fancy.”

  “It’s still the same principle, just more choices and probably the flavors are more accurate. I have some presets and I think I’ll have the lamb dinner for now. You can set up your own.” He turned away to head to the comm panel.

  “I can choose what I want?” Cyndora asked him with a little surprise.

  Crineal looked at her with exasperation as he reached the comm panel. “Yes, silly. If it’s on there you can have it.” He started punching in the request for the bed. Once that was done he set up Cyndora with access to the main replicator and created a sub account for her as part of his own main account. He was surprised at the current balance. A general’s pay was pretty good and he hardly went on leave or used the O-Rec facilities so right now he was prett
y well off. He finished setting the limits on Cyndora’s spending abilities just as she was putting the trays on the table. As he took his place he saw that she’d opted for chicken pasta in a cream sauce. He looked at her glass. “Water? I remember you having wine with meals.”

  “Oh! I can have wine?” She looked surprised again.

  “Sure, as long as you’re not getting drunk. You’d have been plied with booze down in the rec area I have no doubt.”

  “Yes, but we were told that the bartenders were under orders to only supply us with nonalcoholic versions of whatever was ordered for us. They didn’t want us getting drunk either.”

  “Interesting, I hadn’t heard that. But go get yourself some wine, might want to be a bit careful because of the sedative.” Crineal waved her to the kitchen as he dug into his food. He was hungry, too, having missed lunch whilst on patrol.

  Cyndora came back to the table with half a glass of a white wine and nervously started to eat, not sure how she was going to react to proper food again. Crineal watched her surreptitiously as, after the first few bites, her pace picked up and she finished well before he did.

  He chuckled. “You were hungry I see.”

  Cyndora gave out a small groan and wiped her mouth with a napkin “That was wonderful. I’ve not eaten like that for so long…” Crineal stayed silent and took another mouthful as he imagined her thoughts. They both looked up as the door panel buzzed.

  “Probably Supply with the bed. Would you mind?” he asked her. She stood up and went over to the door uncertainly. “Just palm the plate and hit the green button. It’s keyed for you,” he told her. She followed his instructions and the door slid open to reveal a young female crewman holding a long package in an upright position.

  “Delivery for General Crineal?” inquired the crewman, as she eyed Cyndora with more than just a casual appraisal.

  Crineal called from the table. “Bring it in, Crewman. Lean it up in the corner there.”

  “Yes, Sir. Can I give you a hand with setting it up, Sir?” she asked, still trying to discreetly eye Cyndora.