By the Fire: Issue 3 (4 page)

Petty T
hings

"I'm a god" said the blond across the table.

Bobby swallowed his beer trying not to cough. "Uhm, what?"

"I'm a god."

"You're God?"

"No, I'm A god. Little g." She held her thumb and forefinger close together. "Very little g."

He shook his head.
How crazy was this chick?

He had finished his last final earlier that afternoon. When he got back to his apartment his roommate was busy getting high.

"Is that all you do?"

Jake set his bong down. "Of course not! I go to class. Sometimes. Just not all the time. Besides, I still pass all my tests."

Bobby mused for a minute on the sad fact that Jake did indeed pass all of his classes literally without trying.

"Whatever. I'm finally done with this semester."

He plopped down on the second hand couch beside Jake. Jake waggled his bong in his direction.

Bobby held up a hand. "No thanks."

"You need to lighten up a little buddy."

"I can't. I'm not like you. This doesn't come that easy to me."

"Hey, no classes tomorrow buddy. Let's go out tonight and celebrate. Get a drink. Shoot some pool. Maybe you'll even get lucky. Lord knows you need to work out some stress."

"I don't know. I'm really tired."

"Nope. Not hearing it. Tonight's the night we find you a little slice of heaven."

Five hours later he found himself at the counter of a bar trying to get the bartenders attention long enough to order. Looking around he saw Jake showing some brunette in daisy dukes how to play pool. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You look like you could use some help" he heard from his right. He turned and saw a cute girl with long blond hair and bright green eyes in a red summer dress.

He smiled. "I think I might."

"It's a lot easier to get a drink when you have boobs. I'll tell you what; I'll get your order in if you buy me a beer. Deal?"

He glanced back at the bartender who was still not looking his direction. "Deal."

She pointed across the bar. "Why don't you grab us a table and I'll be right there."

"Sounds good, I've got a tab open under Bobby."

He rushed across the room and snagged a table right before another couple reached it. The girl gave him a sharp look while her boyfriend steered her away. A minute later the blond plopped two beers down on the table.

She did a little shimmy and said “I told you the girls could get it done.”

Bobby laughed and tried not to stare too long at said girls.

“I’m Stephanie by the way.”

He reached out his hand and said “Bobby.”

“Well Bobby O thanks for the beer.”

He held his bottle up in a salute before taking a sip. “So why is a pretty girl like you here alone?”

“I’m a serial killer looking for my next victim” she replied before taking a sip of her own.

Bobby chuckled nervously. “No really.”

“What, you don’t believe a girl could be a psycho killer?”

He smiled “Oh, not really. Not the cute ones at least.”

“Ok, well the truth is my friends ditched me at the last second.”

“Well that’s pretty bitchy.”

“Isn’t it though!? Its ok, I’ll get them back. I’m like the queen of revenge.”

“What do you have in mind” he asked.

“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. But enough about them. Tell me about you.”

Bobby started talking and found himself telling her everything about himself. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was the way she curled a lock of her hair around her finger so hypnotically but he spoke for close to an hour about his hopes and fears. Finally he asked “what about you”.

That’s when she dropped her bombshell. “I’m a god.”

He took another sip of his beer. “Ok, I’ll bite. What kind of god? Greek, Roman, Norse?”

“All of the above. That was all one big dysfunctional family anyway with a bunch of names and disguises all over the world.”

He leaned over the table and grinned. He had decided to play along. “Ok, so which one are you?”

“I’m the one that never gets mentioned.
Very few people ever even knew my name. I’m the goddess of petty revenge.”

“Uh huh. And what all does that entail?”

She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Well, in the old days if someone slighted me or one of my few followers I’d curse their prize animal. Or I’d make their well taste bad. These days its little things like keying cars or making sure they get a nasty computer virus off of whatever porn site they are looking at.”

He laughed, “Major revenge there alright.”

She frowned at him. “I said petty revenge. Little hurts for little slights. Like if a guy doesn’t hold the door open for a lady. Or is talking on his cellphone at the counter while he orders.”

“Or if
a girl bails on a valentines date with a made up excuse like Susie Howell did to me two years ago?”

Stephanie reached in her purse and pulled out a small notebook. She scribbled in
it very quickly before putting it away. “Don’t worry; I’ll get her back for that.”

Bobby leaned back in his chair and put his hands up. “Whoa, I didn’t mean that you should track her down. I was just giving an example.”

“Don’t worry” she replied. “That’s what I do.” She jumped up from her chair. “Now how about you and I get out of here? Maybe go dancing or just back to your place.” She shimmied again as she spoke and Bobby felt his heartbeat pick up watching her move.

“Uhm, how about one more drink before we go?”

Her smile perked up. “Ok, sounds like a plan. I’ll be right here waiting.”

Walking away he spotted Jake at the bar talking to a different girl than earlier. He clapped a hand on his shoulder. Jake turned around and gave him a drunken smile.

“Hey, I’m going on home.”

“What? Why? The night is young!”

“I met a crazy one. I’m escaping while I can.”

“Oof! Yeah, run away my friend. Run away.”

“Are you good to get home” Bobby asked.

“Oh yeah man. If I even come home.” Jake wagged his eyebrows up and down.

“Ok. See you tomorrow. Be safe. Penicillin shots ain’t that cheap my friend.”

He drove home in silence to an empty apartment. Several episodes of rerun sitcoms later he passed out in his bed. The next morning he woke to the sounds of pans crashing followed by giggling in the kitchen. He jerked awake and when he tried to get up too quickly his sheets wrapped around his legs. He fell to the floor and groaned in pain. Pushing himself up he disentangled
himself from the sheets and stumbled into the kitchen.

“What the hell is going on in
here” he asked rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Jake was standing in front of the stove with his arms around some brunette. The two were giggling. Jake was just wearing pajama pants and the girl was only wearing one of his oversized t shirts.

“Oh, sorry man, we didn’t mean to wake you up. We’re making pancakes. Want some?”

Bobby covered a yawn before replying. “Sure. I’ll make the coffee.”

“Excellent idea. But first I have to drain the lizard.”

He picked up the coffee pot while Jake wandered out of the room. While he was filling it with water he tried to catch a glimpse of the girl’s legs. Ruff! While he was
loading the coffee maker he felt her move beside him. She slid something onto the counter. He picked it up.

“What’s this?”

“You forgot to close your tab last night so I took care of it for you.”

“Oh, thanks, that was….. what the hell? Five hundred dollars?”

He spun around to find her leaning in close to him. “I told you that I always get revenge. You shouldn’t have ditched me.”

He stepped away from her mouth hanging open. “Plus, you could have had all of this.” She ran her hands over her body while she spoke.

“I don’t believe this. You can’t be Stephanie.”

“And why not? Not blond enough?” Her hair changed from brown to red to blond and then back to brunette.

He started sliding along the counter trying to get away. “Oh crap oh crap oh crap!”

She smiled at him sweetly. “You should have known better” she said in a sing song voice.

“What happened to just keying cars” he asked.

You drive a ’93 Toyota. Why would I key it and add to the scratches and dents it already has?”

He closed his eyes “This can’t be real. It can’t.”

“Oh don’t worry honey, it’s real alright. And you’ll be seeing plenty of me around here from now on.
I told you I always get my revenge.”

“What kind of revenge is sleeping with my roommate?”

“Oh I’ve got plans for you. If I were you I wouldn’t expect to bring too many girls around here. And you should just give up on sleep. I’m what you might call a screamer.”

He shook his head frantically. Stephanie, or whatever her name really was, leered at him until Jake walked back into the room.

“What’s going on in here? Do I need to be worried about you and my roommate” he asked with a smirk.

“You don’t need to worry about me honey. Now how many pancakes would you like?”

Freedom Sun

Chapter 3

Alicia sat at the conference table beside Delaney. Across from them sat Crewman Jones and the marine squad. Armed men ringed the room. She supposed she should be getting used to this situation. She made eye contact with Delaney and he winked at her. She cracked a smile but neither of them said anything. A moment later the door opened and a soldier walked in and saluted her.

“Captain James, General Stalls requests your presence.”

Alicia looked up from her seat but didn’t stand or return the salute. The soldier frowned down at her.

“Tell the General that if he wishes to speak to me I’ll be right here monitoring the treatment of our ‘guests’.”

“I don’t think you understand the weight behind his request.”

“Oh, I understand very well. I also understand that we invited the Command of the Morrigan down to meet with us in good faith and then took them prisoner. You can tell general Stalls that until he gets his head out of his ass he can take his request and shove it.”

The messengers face went through various contortions before he could speak. “Very well.”

He spun on his heel and stomped out of the room. The door had barely closed before Delaney and Jones burst into laughter.

Alicia cocked an eyebrow at them. “I’m glad to see my little act of insubordination is so amusing to you.”

Delaney wiped tears from his eyes. “You just have no idea how many generals I’ve wanted to say that too.”

“Probably as many as I have. I have to admit, it did feel good. That doesn’t change our situation however.”

“Our situation Captain? You on our side now?”

Alicia shook her head. “I just feel a certain responsibility for you.”

“How honorable of you. What do you think their game plan is?”

“Fairly straightforward I imagine. They’ll try to trade you for control of the Morrigan. Failing that they might settle for weapons tech, although I can’t foresee them just letting you run loose. Too much of a wildcard.”

Delaney nodded his head. “I was thinking along the same lines.”

Alicia ran a hand over her scalp. She could feel tiny prickles of hair beginning to grow back.

“Don’t worry” Delaney quipped, “I’ve always liked bald women.”

“Ha-ha, very funny.” She placed her hands back on the table but found herself tapping her fingers in sequence. Pinky to index. Over and over again.

“What I want to know is where my team is. They had better not be mistreating them.”

Delaney laid a hand over hers. He didn’t say anything just sat there giving what comfort he could through a simple touch. Alicia felt a little of the tension drain out of her.

What felt like hours later the door opened again. A squad of heavily armed soldiers marched in and took up position. General Stalls came in behind them red faced and puffing air. Behind him came another man in a suit. Alicia jumped to her feet. Delaney and his crew looked at her confusedly but followed her. She snapped to attention and offered a salute.

“Mr. President.” When she acknowledged him realization dawned on Delaney and he offered a salute of his own. The President returned their salute precisely.

“At ease please. Captain James I’d like to commend you on a job well done.”

“Thank you sir” she replied.

He turned to Delaney and extended a hand. “Commander, I’d like to apologize for how you and your crew have been treated. The military” he jerked his head towards Stalls who grew even redder, “Took things upon themselves. As soon as I learned what was going on I came to sort things out.”

“I thank you Mr. President. And exactly how are things to be sorted?”

Alicia winced at his wording. The President just chuckled. “To the point isn’t he?”

“It’s a character flaw I’m afraid.”

“I suffer from that same flaw. To answer your question, you are free to return to your ship at any time. Although I would like to speak with you before you go.”

Delaney gestured to the table and smiled. “I’m free at the moment. What would you like to talk about?”

The President sat and motioned to one of the guards. “Would you be so kind as to bring coffee and food for our guests?”

The guard nodded and hustled out of the room.

“We’re getting some racket from the Sino/Russian Alliance about the destruction of their shuttle as well as their fighters.”

Alicia sat up straighter. “Both incidents were unprovoked attacks by Chinese forces. An attack that also included nukes despite previous treaties forbidding them.”

The president cocked an eye towards her. “Can you prove that?”

Delaney chimed in. “I can have the footage from the attack sent down from Morrigan. That should quell any rumblings.”

“Excellent. Hopefully that will be enough to forestall a shooting war. Now, I’m curious what your plans are? I’ve read Captain James’ report on your situation and I’d like to know what comes next from you.”

Delaney shook his head. “I honestly don’t know yet. We’re lost here just trying to find our way. The next step will be to head straight for Earth and see if we can find any answers there.”

“We’d like to support you in any way possible. Of course we’d love to have access to anything you find out.”

“That’s a reasonable request. I’ll see that copies of any data are made available to you. I cannot offer any technology to you however.”

“I was afraid that you would say that. Ah well. We’re no worse off than we were. I would like to ask one more thing though. I’d like to assign a liaison to go with you.”

“Who did you have in mind?”

The President shifted his gaze to Alicia. It took her a second to realize what he was implying. Her heart leaped at the thought.

“Oh Hell yeah!” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “My apologies sir that just slipped out.”

He waved her apology away. “It’s quite alright. Commander is that acceptable to you.”

He found himself grinning. “Oh Hell yeah.”

Alicia raised a hand. “May I request my team be assigned as well?”

Delaney frowned. “I’m not sure I’d like an armed team on my ship.”

“I can assure you that we will follow all instructions while under your command. But I believe I’m correct when I say you could use the manpower.”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Very well. Anybody else you’d like to bring along?”

“There is a Doctor Simons who I believe would jump at the chance to go along.”

Delaney nodded. “Very well” said then President. He slapped the table and rose from his chair. “That’s settled. I’ll see about having supplies prepared. God speed Commander. I hope you find what you are looking for.

****

Doctor Simons tripped coming off the shuttle ramp. Alicia had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. Already overburdened with bags, he had been staring open mouthed around the bay and his foot slipped sending him sprawling. The marines around him didn’t even bother to hide their laughter. It was good natured though and they promptly helped him back to his feet. Several even took his bags for him.

He pushed his glasses back up on his nose. “Thank you gentlemen, I seem to have lost my footing.”

Alicia looked at Delaney. “How long until we leave orbit?”

He glanced at his wristwatch. “Not for a few more hours. It’ll take that long to get the promised supplies picked up and unloaded. Wanna be on the bridge when we take off?”

“Oh hell yeah” she said jokingly.

He rolled his eyes at her. “Don’t know that it is inappropriate to speak to a superior officer in that manner” he said while shaking his finger at her.

“Hey, last I checked I was a Captain and you were a Commander.”

“Yeah yeah yeah. I’m still in charge of this tub so you just watch it.”

He waved a crewman over. “Will you show Captain James and her team to their quarters?”

The crewman gave him a crisp salute in rely. “If you all will follow me” he said.

Alicia waved to Delaney. “See you on the flight deck in a bit?”

“Can’t wait Captain.”

When they were out of the hangar and in the corridor the soldiers with her started laughing. “Someone has a new boyfriend” Stanwick joked.

“Oh shut up” Alicia said while shoving him away.

“Hey, we’ve seen how you two flirt” Perkins chimed in.

“Don’t worry cap” Said Greene, “We don’t blame you. Besides, that Crewman Jones is pretty cute. Thinking about asking her for a personal tour of the ship.”

“Yeah, you can keep thinking, but I saw her first” said Watkins.

“You boys can argue all you want but I outrank you both” Perkins said.

Alicia just rolled her eyes and was grateful that they were off of her case. Dr. Simons looked around at the arguing soldiers.

“Are they always like this?”

“Oh yeah Doc, every soldier I’ve ever met was like this. It keeps the boredom away. Sometimes it keeps the terror away.”

“Oh! So it’s a psychological release. We studied things like that in my undergrad.”

“Something like that Doc” Alicia said with a smile.

“These are your quarters” their guide cut in. “We’ve placed you all in the same section. If you need anything feel free to call.”

Alicia thanked him and walked into her new quarters. As an officer she rated a single as did Doctor Simons. The others were bunking two to a room.

Inside were more steel gray bulkheads. The only color in the room was the green of several potted plants. She threw her bag on the bed. Unzipping it she pulled out two small pictures and taped them to the wall. The first was an older couple posing, all smiles and comfortable embraces like most couples who have been together for years. The second was of a young girl with blonde hair in pigtails flying a kite.

****

The holo-imager showed the Morrigan orbiting Mars. Alicia shook her head again when she saw it. Her team stood around her and all but Watkins were staring open mouthed around them at the flight deck. Doctor Simons stood next to the holo-imager staring intently at the minute details of the image.

“Incredible” he said to no one.

“I take it that he is impressed” Delaney said from over her shoulder.

She nodded. “Looks like. We ready to get underway?”

“Near about. Excited?”

Her heart was pounding and she could feel excitement coursing through her. “Maybe a little.”

“Just a little?”

She held her fingers a half inch apart. “Just a little.”

“Ok then. Systems check” he called out.

“All systems report green across the board” Crewman Jones responded.

“Very well. Lay in course for Earth command.”

“Sub light or jump sir?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think we’re prepared to attempt another jump just yet. No telling where we’d end up. Sub light, best possible speed.”

“Aye sir.”

Alicia leaned over to ask “how long will it take us at that speed.”

“About two and a half weeks” Delaney replied. “At least that will give us plenty of time to sort everything out onboard ship.”

“Well, if we have nothing but time how about you show me some more of your ship later Commander?”

“I’d love to. How about I pick you up at O six hundred?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

****

O five thirty found Alicia staring into her mirror wondering what to do with herself. “No hair to fix” she mused out loud. “At least I brought a little bit of makeup.”

Unfortunately she wasn’t sure how dressed up to get. Well, as dressed up as one could get in a flight suit. She had already put on makeup and then washed it back off once. Now she was applying more as lightly as she could make it. “Why do I feel giddy” she asked her reflection. Too bad the mirror didn’t have any answers for her. When the door chime beeped her heart kicked into overdrive. She gripped the sink and took three deep breaths. By the time she opened the hatch she had her game face on.

“Good evening Commander” she said with a smile.

“Captain. Are you ready?”

“Absolutely. Where to first?”

“I thought we’d start with the atrium” he replied.

“Isn’t that where you first captured us? I’ve kinda already seen that place.”

It was his turn to smile. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Come on.”

They walked through the double hatch into the atrium. Despite having seen it before she still gasped at the sight. “It’s just so green. It’s weird to see so much plant life in space.”

“Not as weird as you think. Everything has a purpose. We grow fruits and vegetables to help with food stores. The trees and moss help replenish our oxygen. You might have noticed all the plants in your room.”

“Yeah, I wondered what was up with that.”

“Every room has several plants, everything from peace lilies to small rubber trees. It’s each crewmember’s responsibility to keep up with them. We even have a small botany staff on board to tend to this atrium and the hydroponic bays.”