Titanium Texicans

by Alan Black

  Cruz said, “That was English. Are you retarded or something?”

  Tasso smiled. “Not that I know of, no. This morning you attacked me for being a smart ass. Now you’re going to attack me for being a dumb ass.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “And I’ll stay away from Anisa when she tells me to, not you. Comprende, amigo?”

  Cruz spat out, “Your mother is a frakking whore—”

  Before the boy could finish the insult, Tasso’s fist crushed into his mouth. Blood splattered. He hit Cruz four times before the older boy crashed to the deck. He was ready to fly into the other three boys, but before he could move, a huge hand grabbed his shoulder.

  “Afternoon, amigos,” Gordo said. His massive fist held the back of Tasso’s coverall, so he couldn’t move.

  Eber said, “This doesn’t concern you, pendejo. Move on.”

  Gordo said, “Really? I don’t know what this is that I’m not supposed to be concerned about. I am confident that I don’t like to be called an a-hole by a snot-nosed little trainee who needs a lesson in manners.”

  “You don’t know who I am, do you?” Eber said. “My dad can get you reassigned to waste management, and I’m the quarterback on the trainee football team. You’d better not mess with me, old man. Coach Gonzalez will have your head if you don’t leave us alone.”

  Gordo laughed. “Gonzo will have my head? Imagine that.”

  Flacco slapped the broomstick in his hand. “I have an uncle in Security. You’d better back off, old man. Go about your business elsewhere.

  Gordo said. “That’s the perfect size dowel rod for a project I have in maintenance.” His hand shot out and twisted the improvised weapon out of Flacco’s hands. “Mira, you’re never going to make a grownup’s football team if you can’t hang onto a ball better than that.”

  Flacco said, “Hey! I need that. It’s a walking cane.” He pointed a finger at Tasso. “He broke my foot this morning and it’ll keep me from playing in Friday’s game.”

  “That’s nonsense,” another voice bellowed from behind Tasso. “Your ankle was twisted. The doctor told you to stay off it, not to use a cane. Wait a minute! The report you filed for Security said you slipped in the shower. Are you saying Tasso Menzies attacked you and you lied about it?”

  Tasso wasn’t able to turn and see who was behind him because Gordo still held him firmly. Slowly, he was able to breathe again. He didn’t remember holding his breathe, but he must have. He didn’t remember hitting Cruz, but he knew he had. He could see the older boy struggling to get to his feet. His lips were split and bleeding. His nose was twisted sideways and gushing blood.

  “Dios!” said Security Sergeant Rodriguez. He spoke into his dataport. “This is Security. Please have a med team standing by. We’re bringing in an injured trainee. Armando Cruz looks like he has severe facial damage. His nose is a bit more than broken this time.”

  Gordo looked at the Security sergeant and said, “I haven’t seen a nose that bad since you got kicked in the face by a bull. Remember that? Funniest thing I ever saw. You almost killed the bull when you got up off the ground.”

  Rodriguez nodded. “Yeah, I remember, Gordo. I also remember you’re the one who let the bull out of the pen before I was ready. So, what happened here? Who threw the first punch?”

  Cruz pointed at Tasso. All three of the other boys pointed at Tasso.

  Gordo lifted Tasso off the deck, setting him in front of the sergeant. He turned Tasso loose. “He did. I saw him swinging.”

  Tasso nodded. “Yes, sir. I mean, si, señor. I hit him.” He almost choked on the Spanish words, but he didn’t figure this was time to be stubborn about being Scottish.

  Rodriguez said, “More than once from the looks of it.” He motioned to two other officers, gesturing them to take Cruz away. “Did Cruz get in any hits? Did he fight back?”

  Tasso shrugged. He really didn’t remember Cruz even trying to swing.

  Gordo said, “Not that I saw. He was out on his feet from Tasso’s first punch. Sorry, but this boy has fast hands. I didn’t get here in time to stop it. And by the way, where were you and your guys?”

  Rodriguez shook his head. “Why we weren’t here quicker is a Security issue I’m going to have to take up with powers who have more reach than I do.” He looked up at the security camera. “And whoever ducked out on calling this altercation to my attention had better be happy others will be handling it and not me.” The sergeant looked at the crowd gathering around. He motioned to another two officers. “Take these three down to the Security Office.”

  “Hey!” Eber said. “We didn’t do nothing.”

  Rodriguez said, “I should take you in for bad grammar, if nothing else. You’re witness to a felonious assault. I’ll need your complete statements. Get these boys out of here and make sure they don’t talk amongst themselves.”

  Flacco said, “Why aren’t you arresting him?” He hooked a thumb at Tasso. “He started this whole thing. He threw the first punch.”

  Rodriguez said, “Oh, he’ll be along directly. I’ll take him in myself. Señor Flacco, do you have doubts about my ability to control one trainee?”

  Eber shouted, “No, but he followed us here and tried to jump us—”

  “Shut up, all of you,” Rodriguez said. ‘That is exactly what I do not want you discussing until you give your complete and honest answers.” He pointed at his security officers. “And I want them to give independent reports. Got me? I don’t want any collaboration between them. I see anything that looks like collusion and you’ll be in the same cell with them and this boy.”

  He grabbed Tasso’s wrists and twisted his arms behind his back. Before anyone could protest, the security sergeant slid wrist restraints on, binding Tasso’s hands tight. The man spun the lock and depressed the override key. “There,” Rodriguez said, “those are for everyone’s safety. These handcuffs cannot be taken off anywhere on the ship except in the Security Office. You’re now officially under arrest for assault. Please be aware other charges may be pending or may be filed at a later time.”

  Tasso started to speak, but Rodriguez said, “This is a precaution. I don’t think you started this. You haven’t given me the impression you’re stupid, and no matter how fast you are and how hard you hit, only a stupid man starts a war with four to one odds. However, just in case you’re some kind of psychopath, these restraints will keep me from having to hurt you if you try something with me.”

  Tasso started to speak again, but Rodriguez interrupted him once again. “I don’t have to tell you this, but I’m advising you to keep your mouth shut. As a trainee, you’ll have a responsible adult with you during all phases of questioning. That would normally be your supervisor, but since your straw boss is Tio Gabe, I’m sure FO Graham will assign someone to help you.”

  Tasso started to speak again, but Rodriguez interrupted him a third time. “Seriously, boy? Shut up already and don’t say anything until you get help. I can see why you piss Cruz off so much. Don’t you listen?”

  Tasso said, “I will shut up, but I need to say one thing first. Record what I say and use it against me. I don’t care. I need to tell you I was on my way to A-0015 before I ran into those four. I was responding to a call to go see the captain. I need you to call A-0015 and tell her I’m not coming.”

  Rodriguez looked skeptical. “Yeah, right! A trainee being called up to see the captain. Like that happens everyday!”

  Gordo nodded. “I doesn’t happen every day, but I heard the call myself. That’s where Tasso was going. And it didn’t sound like the call was one of those things that’d be easily put off while you security types take a week’s worth of statements and compare them to the videos.”

  Rodriguez’s face went from skeptical to stricken, “The captain? Are you sure she was calling to see him?”

  Tasso shrugged. How was he to know?

  Gordo laughed, “Sorry you two, but this situation is kind of funny. All we know is Tasso got a call to report to A-0015. Do you know
anyone else who uses the captain’s office? I never heard about it if someone does. And you went and arrested the boy, slapping your magic cuffs on him. Now what? Are you going to drag him down to Security, get him uncuffed, unarrested, and then let him go see the captain? Man, those four young gamberros already delayed him long enough to be late. How’s he going to explain that you made him make the captain wait longer for him?”

  Rodriguez shook his head. “I can’t hear you call those four young trainees hooligans. You’re a witness to this assault and I need you to go to the Security Office and fill out an official statement.”

  Gordo laughed, “Not on a Saturday night when I have a date with the prettiest blonde on the ship.”

  “You do not have a date with the prettiest blonde on the ship. Why would Cherry Chisholm go out with you?”

  Gordo laughed. “Bet me twenty credits?” Rodriguez nodded. “Good. Ask Tasso. He was there and heard the whole thing. Tell him Tasso. Tell him that I have a date tonight with the prettiest blonde on the ship.”

  Tasso shook his head. “I’m sorry to disagree, Gordo. You do have a date with Cherry Chisholm, but you have to see her store partner Ain to judge who is the prettiest.”

  Rodriguez looked surprised. “You’ve met the Hidden One?”

  Tasso nodded. He wasn’t in the mood to talk. He was sure he was in trouble with the captain. He was already delayed beyond politeness and getting into more trouble by the minute.

  Gordo said, “You heard Tasso, Rodriguez. I do have a date with Cherry Chisholm tonight, so you can kiss your report—”

  Sergeant Rodriguez held up a finger to silence Gordo. He put his hand over his ear and listened to a call only he could hear. Finally, he said, “Okay, I just got my short hairs caught in the wringer. Captain’s office called and ordered us to locate Tasso Menzies and deliver him to A-0015, on the double.”

  Gordo said, “So …?” He let the question tail off.

  “So, I’m going to take him up there myself. We don’t have time to get these handcuffs off, so he goes with them on.”

  Tasso thought Rodriguez had more to say, but the man stuffed him into an elevator and hit the button for Deck A.

  “Now is the time to keep your cornbread intake conduit clamped shut and only speak when spoken to.”

  Tasso said nothing.

  “You understand me?”

  Tasso said, “I’m not saying anything.”

  “Good boy,” Rodriguez said as he half hustled, half-dragged Tasso out of the elevator and down the hall.

  The door to A-0015 appeared too quickly as Tasso wasn’t sure he was ready for whatever or whoever was behind the door. He would have hesitated to knock if he’d been alone, but Rodriguez knocked once and opened the door. The security sergeant put the flat of his foot on Tasso’s backsides and booted the boy into the office.

  CHAPTER 16

  TASSO BARELY kept his balance as he crashed into Purser William Rojo’s chair. The captain and the FO had their heads together discussing some report. He was distressed to see Anisa standing behind the captain. The girl had a length of white ribbon with the red and gold ship’s crest on it. She was interweaving the ribbon into the braid running down the woman’s back. As she braided, she twisted the hair to braid it back up the captain’s head.

  “Sorry, sir,” Tasso said to Bill Rojo. “For some reason, I seem to be especially clumsy today.” He saw Anisa turn about and glance at him as he spoke. She blushed a bright red before turning back to her work.

  Bill Rojo laughed. “I remember going through a clumsy stage myself. Dad told me it has something to do with growth spurts and the brain trying to catch up to the body. If I remember correctly, Rodriguez, you went through much the same phase just when the Junior Rodeo Finals started at Picket Wire.”

  The Security sergeant nodded. “Yeah, thanks for reminding me. I was the top seed in bull riding but only took third place that year. I couldn’t walk without stumbling over my own feet.”

  Tasso stared at the two men. He had no idea what a rodeo was. He knew a bull was a male cow, but why anyone would try to ride one was beyond him. He wanted to ask, but he was determined to keep his mouth shut unless asked a direct question.

  Rojo looked up at Tasso from his seated position. “I do think you’ve grown four or five inches taller since you came on board.”

  Tasso didn’t say anything, since the purser hadn’t asked him a direct question. He didn’t see how he could’ve grown. His coveralls still fit as well today as the first day he had put one on.

  Sergeant Rodriguez turned to go, but Bill Rojo stopped him “I think you better stick around.”

  The sergeant glanced at the captain. Her head was still buried in reports. He shook his head. “I’d rather not, sir. I can wait in the corridor.”

  “I’d rather not be here either, Rodriguez. The mood the captain is in today doesn’t bode well for anyone in this office. Plus, from the looks of your young friend here, I do think you may have some explaining to do.”

  The captain turned around, “Explain what—good god, Sergeant Rodriguez! What did you do to this boy? I said to find him and bring him here. I didn’t say to arrest him, handcuff him, and beat him bloody.”

  Rodriguez looked stricken. “Honest, Captain, we didn’t beat him.”

  Tasso glanced down at the front of his coveralls. He hadn’t realized it, but his coveralls had blood splattered all over them. He almost grinned. He knew the blood wasn’t his.

  “But you did arrest and handcuff him,” she stated. It wasn’t quite a question, but it was apparent to everyone in the room that she expected an answer.

  “Yes, Captain,” Rodriguez said. “He was under arrest and handcuffed before Security received the call to bring him up here.”

  The office was silent. No one wanted to speak until the captain stopped looking daggers at everyone in the room. Her gaze finally settled on Tasso. “Señor Menzies, I’m beginning to think you are more of a problem than you’re worth. Maybe I should put you in a shipping crate and send you back to your uncle.”

  Tasso didn’t say anything. He kept his face as passive as he could, but he realized he wasn’t quite ready to go home. He didn’t trust Bruce Menzies. Going back now would still leave Bruce with too much control over him. Still, the captain said that was what she should do, not what she would do. She didn’t ask him a direct question.

  Captain Rojo took a deep breath and sighed. “Okay, everybody grab a chair. Let’s get everything on the table and see if we can make some sense of this. You too, Rodriguez. I could call Security Commander Tyler Shanklin, but you’re already here. Record any relevant issues for your supervisor to review as necessary.”

  Anisa started to leave, but the captain stopped her. “I think Trainee Menzies should have a friend in support. Go sit down, Anisa.”

  “Yes, Aunt Lil … I mean, Captain Rojo,” Anisa said.

  First Officer Graham said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Captain. We may need to discuss some issues that shouldn’t become gossip for the ship’s crew.”

  The captain motioned Anisa to sit. “Anisa, you’ll keep everything said here confidential. Do you understand me, young lady?”

  Tasso tried to sit in a chair against the far wall. The captain shook her head and crooked a finger at him to move closer. Tasso tried to scoot the chair forward, but with his hands in handcuffs behind his back, he couldn’t move quickly or with much range of motion. He tried to drag the chair forward with one foot while hopping on the other foot, but that didn’t work any better than scooting.

  Rodriguez came to his aid, dragging his chair closer to the group. The captain shook her head and pointed at a spot directly in front of her. Rodriguez picked up the chair and set it down, front and center. He helped Tasso sit.

  Tasso couldn’t lean back with his hands bound behind him, so he sat upright. He didn’t feel like relaxing, anyway. He didn’t remember ever having been more nervous. He picked and stared at a bare spot on the desk to
avoid making eye contact with anyone. He wanted to glance at Anisa, but he didn’t look up. He decided he’d rather be sitting on Saronno in the dark waiting for Ol’ Ben to eat his face than sitting here.

  The captain said, “Is everyone comfy? Drinks? Snacks?”

  Tasso was not overly familiar with the wide range of human communications, but even he could hear the sarcasm in Captain Rojo’s voice. He hadn’t eaten since sometime yesterday, but he wasn’t going to bring it up now.

  She nodded and looked thoughtful when nobody spoke. “Dang it if I ain’t hungry, though. Billy, order us up something, nothing too spicy. I don’t want our guest of honor to have to spit it out again. Pizza would be good and sweet tea all around. Yes, I know you prefer your tea unsweetened, but this a business meeting and not a cocktail party.”

  She didn’t wait while Bill made a call on his dataport. “Security Sergeant Rodriguez, please explain the blood and handcuffs.”

  “Captain,” Rodriguez said, “I don’t have the whole story yet. I had Menzies under arrest and in handcuffs just before we got your call to bring him up here. These cuffs are locked and can’t be unlocked outside of the Security Office.”

  “Do you think Menzies is dangerous?” She asked the question in all seriousness.

  Rodriguez shook his head. “I do not, Captain. However, it’s standard operating procedure in a violent felony accusation case. Before you ask, those accusations haven’t been proven, but the handcuffs are prudent just the same.”

  The captain nodded. “Go ahead.”

  “Security got a call from a crew member about an altercation near the promenade. I responded with a small team. The altercation was over by the time we got there. Trainee Armando Cruz was injured. Actually, Cruz was on the deck, bloody and struggling to get up. Trainee Menzies was in the custody of an adult who had intervened and stopped the altercation. Menzies admitted attacking and beating Cruz. It is my belief the blood on Menzies belongs to Cruz, although we haven’t run DNA tests.”