He smiled at her reassuringly. “You didn’t, I was just a little surprised. But pleasantly so. Very pleasantly.”
“I know it’s part of what I’m supposed to do, but I want you to understand that I did it because I wanted to, not because I had to. It’s difficult to explain.”
“Just tell me the best you can. I’m sure we’ll work it out.”
She took another deep breath and collected her thoughts. “I’ve been conditioned to use my body to please others.” He nodded a little in acknowledgement. “But what happens when I want to just do that kind of thing to show affection? I don’t know what to do any more. Am I just responding to my training to keep a friend happy, or am I genuinely doing it out of love? What I did in the shower was probably a little beyond friendship, I think.”
Crineal looked at her thoughtfully. “Maybe, maybe not. Some people are friends and they have sex without wanting or needing that deeper love. They love each other as friends and to them it’s like watching a movie together or playing tennis or something. So it’s more down to how you feel emotionally, I guess.”
Cyndora looked into her cup. “I know, and that’s confusing, too. We were and are friends. We already know each other. But our situation here makes it difficult. We can hardly go on dates, have romantic dinners together, walks in the moonlight and stuff.”
“That’s true, but a lot of that is just so that the people can get to know each other anyway. I think we’re well past that stage. So it’s down to how we really feel about each other. Would you like to go first?”
She looked up at him. “I know I love and care for you as a friend. I think it could be more, but it’s all a bit confused right now. I know that I don’t want your love out of pity for my situation and I’m worried that what’s happened to me might affect how you feel towards me. I’m hardly a sexual innocent any more.”
Crineal nodded in understanding, carefully trying to think of the right words. “When we worked together in Coventry I would have liked us to have been a couple. I know bad things have happened to you since. I took you out of the rec dorm because I wanted to help a friend, not because I pitied you or wanted to buy your affection. Over the last few weeks I think I’ve found that you’re still the same woman I liked so much over a decade ago. If you feel you need to talk to me about what happened to you in prison, then I’ll listen; but if you’d rather I didn’t know, then I’ll accept that too. It won’t change how I feel about you in either case. I love you as a friend and I’d like to do more.” His blue eyes locked onto her green ones. She put her cup down and walked unsteadily to perch on the edge of the sofa next to him, putting her arms around his shoulders.
“Thank you, I’d like to try, too,” she was crying a little now. “I thought that maybe no one would want me after I’d been used by so many. I never thought I’d meet someone I knew ever again.”
“It’s ok, we both have things in the past that we wish weren’t there.” Crineal kissed her cheek gently. “We’ll just have to help each other get through them.”
The next day a med tech arrived to shuttle Crineal to the med bay in a grav chair. Cyndora followed along together with the marine guard for the morning. Waiting for them was Doctor Marrash.
“General Crineal, now my morning is complete,” he boomed witheringly.
“Good morning, Doc. I see you’re in an excellent mood as usual.” He looked around the med bay noting that there were only three occupied beds. “Running out of patients to torture, Doc?”
“My life is always quieter when you’re not out stirring up trouble.” Marrash paused at the look of hurt on Crineal’s face. “My deepest apologies, General, that was uncalled for. I know how much your pilots mean to you,” he said sincerely.
“That’s ok, Doc, I know you didn’t mean anything by it. So when can I get this stuff off me?” he asked as the med tech helped him onto a diagnostic table.
The doctor studied the readouts for a minute. “We’ll give you a new set of bandages and gel and then you can come back in two days to have them removed.”
Crineal shook his head. “Sorry, I’m required in court that day. How about tomorrow?”
Marrash looked steadily at him. “How about after the court martial instead?”
“Alright, I guess I should set an example and follow your instructions.”
Raising his eyebrows the doctor stared at Crineal. “Really? That would be a change. Ok, Tech, go ahead and change his dressings. I’ve got some work to do.”
“Later, Doc,” Crineal said to his retreating back as the med tech started to cut away the bandages. When the tech was done Crineal visited the three Ares pilots who were still in med bay. Cyndora was pleased that Feldea had been released and was probably already on Earth shopping but sad that her friend wasn’t there to talk to.
Once Crineal was safely back in his quarters, Cyndora got changed and headed out to the gym. She wasn’t surprised to have another group of pilots appear just after she arrived and keep her company during her workout. The evening was spent with Crineal and Cyndora curled up together on the sofa watching a couple of holo movies. Cyndora enjoyed the feeling of intimacy without the pressure of sex. They retired to their separate beds feeling very relaxed and happy. The day before the trial Crineal spent a lot of time providing comfort to Cyndora and reassuring her that she would be fine testifying. Cyndora was still restless that night and finally cuddled up to Crineal in his bed for solace.
Chapter Thirteen
Commander Junon sat next to Del’Tarim in the conference room designated for the court martial. He studied his notes whilst waiting for the panel members to enter. There were only three spectators, Admiral Ken’Rathel, Captain Aldar and Senior Commander Raptcha, head of the Annihilator’s JAG section. Behind the adjacent desk sat Lt. Commander Illyat, the prosecuting council. She was studying the notes on her data pad, too. He thought she looked a lot more confident about her evidence then he was about his.
The rear door of the chamber opened and everyone stood to attention as the three judges entered. None of the three were young; one was a vice admiral and the other two were commodores.
The clerk of the court announced them. “All rise. This court martial is now in session. Vice Admiral Reylenth presiding with Commodores Arranak and Beratt assisting.” The judges seated themselves and everyone else followed suit after a suitable, respectful pause. Junon queried his data pad for information on the judges. All three were decorated combat officers with distinguished records. None of them seemed to be political, and Junon grew more worried. He’d expected at least one or two to have some affiliations with the Imperial Council.
The clerk stood again. “This court is here to consider the charges against Commander Del’Tarim. Commander Del’Tarim is charged with conspiring with a junior crew member to obtain an illegal key card, a violation of Article Twenty Three, Subsection Nine; with possession of an illegal key card, a violation of Article Twenty Three, Subsection Twelve; with bribing a junior crew member to subvert security, a violation of Article Seventeen, Section Three; with intent to assault and rape a junior crew member, a violation of Article Three, Subsections Seven and Eight; with attempted coercion of a junior crew member in an attempt to gain access to a senior officer’s quarters, a violation of Article Five, Section Nine; and, of unauthorized entry into a senior flag rank officer’s quarters with malicious intent, a violation of Article Five, Section Seven. How does the defendant plead?”
Commander Junon stood. “Commander Del’Tarim pleads Not Guilty to all of the charges as stated, Your Honor.” He reseated himself.
Vice Admiral Reylenth nodded. “Thank you, Commander. Lt. Commander Illyat, would the prosecution like to make its opening statement?”
Illyat stood. “Thank you, Your Honor. The prosecution intends to show that Commander Del’Tarim bribed a medical technician to obtain information about the movements of General Crineal’s recreation assistant, and then, using this information, positioned himself to threaten
her in an attempt to gain access to the general’s private quarters where he intended to assault and rape the assistant. And that he obtained an illegal key card from a bridge technician so as to obtain entry to the general’s quarters if his threats failed to gain him access. Also, that he used this card to illegally enter General Crineal’s quarters with malicious intent.” She finished and sat down.
“Thank you, Lt. Commander. Commander Junon, would the defense like to make its opening statement at this time?” the vice admiral asked.
“Your Honor, the defense requests its right to reserve its opening statement at this time.” Junon didn’t want to say anything that might prove stupid in the face of the prosecution’s evidence. There would be time to make a statement afterwards.
“Very well. Lt. Commander, please call your first witness.”
“The prosecution calls Medical Technician Torgat.”
A man in a uniform with the badges indicating the medical section on the shoulders entered the court and took his place on the witness stand, where he was sworn in as a witness by the clerk.
Illyat stood to address him. “Technician Torgat, please relate the events of the fifth of this month in relation to Commander Del’Tarim.”
Torgat started nervously to tell his story. “I was on duty in the medical bay serving the port side flight decks when a commander I didn’t recognize came in and asked me if I’d seen a redheaded recreation assistant in here. I said I had and that she’d been in to visit one of the injured pilots. Then he said he’d appreciate it if the next time she was in the med bay that I’d give him a call to let him know when she left and he gave me a ten credit chip.”
“And could you identify the commander who approached you?” Illyat asked him.
“Yes, Ma’am, that’s the commander there,” he pointed to Del’Tarim.
“And what happened next?”
“Well, Ma’am, the following day I saw the recreation assistant in the med bay again. As soon as she left, I commed the commander like he asked and told him that she’d left the bay. He thanked me and that was it.”
“Thank you, Technician Torgat. I have no more questions.”
Vice Admiral Reylenth looked at Junon with her hazel eyes. “Commander, do you wish to cross examine the witness?”
Junon stood. “Thank you, Ma’am. Technician Torgat, did the commander tell you why he wanted to know the movements of the woman?”
“Yes, Sir, he said he’d like to meet her. That was it.”
“So there was no indication of any malice in the request?”
“No, Sir,” Torgat shook his head.
“No further questions, your Honor,” Junon said and sat down. All of the technician’s answers had proven true and Junon felt at least he’d been able to show no obvious intent at this point.
The silver-blonde vice admiral looked at Illyat. “Any further questions, Lt. Commander?”
“No, Ma’am.”
“Then the witness is excused.”
Once the technician had left, Illyat stood again. “The prosecution calls Senior Bridge Technician Narain.”
The man that entered this time was handcuffed and escorted by a marine. The marine took up post behind the technician as the clerk swore him in.
“Technician Narain, would you please tell the court what happened on the sixth of this month?”
The technician looked miserably at Illyat. “Yes, Ma’am. I was just coming off duty when an officer approached me. He said he’d heard I could make access cards. I told him that doing that was completely out of order and there were stiff penalties for doing it. He said he’d heard it from a friend who’d got one from me and he gave me the name. So I called the guy and checked out that he’d pointed the officer my way. He said he had. So I asked the officer what kind of key card he needed. He told me that it had to be unregistered and could open any door. I told him that I don’t normally make those because it’s too dangerous if it gets discovered. He said he might not need to use it at all and he offered me two thousand credits for the card.” The technician shrugged. “At that price I couldn’t afford to say no, so I told him I’d meet him later. I made up the card like he asked and then met him like we’d arranged. I gave him the card. He gave me a credit chip.”
“And do you recognize the officer who approached you and that you gave the illegal key card to?” Illyat asked.
“Yes, Ma’am. That’s the man right there,” Narain pointed to Del’Tarim.
“No further questions, Your Honor,” and the Lt. Commander reseated herself.
Reylenth looked towards Junon. “Commander?”
He stood. “Thank you, Ma’am,” Junon said and then turned to Narain. “Technician, you said that you don’t normally make these kinds of cards… but you have made them before?”
“Yes, Sir,” replied Narain.
“So it’s possible that there are more of these uncoded cards around?”
“I guess so, Sir. I don’t keep track of what happens to them.”
“Thank you, Technician. I have no further questions, your Honor.”
“Lt. Commander Illyat?” the vice admiral asked.
“No further questions, your Honor.”
“The witness is excused,” Reylenth said and the unfortunate Narain was led away by the marine.
Again, the witness hadn’t been lying, but Junon hoped he’d managed to create enough doubt to say it was possible that Del’Tarim had found an uncoded card.
Lt. Commander Illyat stood once more. “The prosecution would like to call Recreation Assistant Cyndora.”
Junon steeled himself as the redheaded woman he’d read so much about, but never met, entered the court and was sworn in. She was wearing the standard assistant’s uniform and looked out of place amongst all the black military outfits.
“Assistant Cyndora, would you please tell the court what happened on the sixth of this month?” Illyat asked in a kind voice.
Cyndora nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. I had just finished visiting my friend in the recreation dorm and I was on my way back to General Crineal’s quarters when I saw an officer I didn’t know in the corridor ahead of me. As I went to pass him he reached out and grabbed me by the throat. He told me if I screamed or struggled that he would kill me. Then he said he wanted me to entertain him the next day. I told him that I was assigned to General Crineal. He laughed and said ‘I know who’s fucking you, slut, and I’m not scared of him.’ Then he pushed my top aside and squeezed my breast and pinched the nipple hard. He told me that he’d be at the door to the general’s quarters at about nine and that I was to let him in and that if I didn’t he’d find me and kill me. Then he put his hand inside my panties and roughly fondled me there. He said he’d see me in the morning, or else. Then he dropped me to the floor and walked away.”
“And can you identify the officer who accosted you?” Illyat asked her sympathetically.
“Yes, Ma’am. It was the officer sitting there,” Cyndora replied, pointing at Del’Tarim.
“And what did you do after that?”
“I went back to the general’s quarters and when the general returned I told him what had happened.”
“Even though you’d been threatened?” the Lt. Commander asked.
“Yes, Ma’am. The general had made it clear to me that I was assigned to him and no one else and that I should report to him if anyone approached me for my services.”
“Most diligent and brave of you, Cyndora. And what did General Crineal do when you told him?”
“He called Colonel Jaynes and asked her to report to his quarters with a security detail the following morning at oh seven hundred hours,” Cyndora replied.
“Did he tell her why?” Illyat inquired.
“He said that he was concerned that there might be a security breach the following morning.”
“And what happened the following morning?”
“The colonel and two other marines arrived at seven and I served breakfast to everyone. Then at a little a
fter nine the door comm panel buzzed. I answered the door comm to see who it was and the voice of the officer who had attacked me the day before said that he was here and to let him in. General Crineal, Colonel Jaynes and one of the marines went into the bedroom and the other marine hid behind the kitchen counter.”
“And what did you do?” Illyat asked gently.
“I backed away from the door and went and stood in the corner of the lounge. As I was going there the officer was threatening me to let him in. Then he said that I was going to get it now and a few seconds later the door opened and the officer came in.”
“You didn’t let him in?”
“No, Ma’am. I was in the corner when the door opened.”
“And what happened then?”
“He told me he was going to make me suffer and started to come around the table at me. That was when the marine in the kitchen stood up and the general, the colonel and the other marine came out of the bedroom.”
Illyat nodded. “Thank you, Assistant Cyndora, you’ve been very brave. No further questions, Your Honor.”
Reylenth looked over at Junon. “Commander, your witness.”
Junon sat there stiffly. The monitors hadn’t shown the slightest indication of falsehood. Everything that Del’Tarim had told him was a lie, just as he had suspected. He stood up. “Ma’am, I’d like to beg the court’s indulgence and request a brief moment to consult with my client.”
The vice admiral looked at the commodores to either side of her before nodding. “Very well, Commander, but please make it quick.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” he said before motioning Del’Tarim to follow him into a side room.
Once inside he rounded on him. “So she approached you and it was all a trap? You’re an idiot, Commander.”
Del’Tarim snarled back at him. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that. She’s lying.”
“Of course she isn’t. If she was then the monitors would have been screaming. There are no questions I can even ask her to try and mitigate the damage her testimony has done. I presume it’s safe to assume that the witnesses that you suggested I call to verify your story will show up to be as big a liar as you are?”
Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service Page 22
