Chapter 33: Strange Offers

Este got up and left. I took a moment to look down at Lilith who remained kneeling to my left. “I did not ask you or command you to do that.”

Lilith nodded. She reached up to touch one of the horns that appeared to grow out of her forehead. It was strangely sexy. “I know,” she whispered. “But you know that all of the concubines Tribune Walesca sent are volunteers.”

“So he told me,” I said. “He indicated that there are many concubines who have lost their master or mistress due to the war against the Sa’arm.”

“Yes,” Lilith said. She sounded both happy and saddened by that comment. “The little we knew while living on Earth failed to warn those choosing to become concubines of that danger. We’re led to believe that all that we need to fear is the Sa’arm.”

“All we need to fear, is fear itself,” I said quietly.

Lilith shook her head. “No concubine living in the unattached concubine barracks would agree with that. Having Tribune Walesca show up at your pod to inform you that your master has died in battle. Or been executed because he was a venal coward who grabbed the breast of a wounded woman while pretending to attempt to help her.”

The last sentence was said in a near whisper. I looked down at Lilith and sighed. “That sounds like the voice of experience.”

Lilith nodded slowly. “Conrad was a coward. He could follow orders, but his ego must have been growing out of control even before he was picked up. By the time we arrived at Borneo he was almost mad with the idea that he’d somehow win the war by himself. I understand that he got thrown off of Ishtar due to his antics.”

“Oh?” I asked. “I’ve heard that there is a colony on Ishtar, but why would getting thrown off be significant?”

“Ishtar has become a major repair station,” Lilith said. “Most of the recently arrived concubines have heard about it because so many ships have visited it and been repaired while there. Their masters talk about the small but friendly population and the fact that there are facilities for shore leave. But they are also known for being serious about how the concubines living there are to be treated.”

“You’ve met a concubine from there?” I asked.

“I’ve remained on Borneo since arriving. Conrad never took us with him. I only know much about it because of the gossip in the concubine barracks. Some masters allow their concubines to roam the township they are dropped in,” Lilith admitted.

“And concubines probably are bored so gossip about their master or mistress is a major part of any visit,” I said with a nod. “However, you still haven’t made a clear statement about why you are kneeling next to me.”

Before Lilith could answer the AI rang a chime in the captain’s dayroom. “Captain, a Lance Corporal Dunning is standing outside and inquiring on if they can meet with you.”

“Dunning?” I asked. “Where does she serve?”

“She has been designated as a gunner and given the position Aesir Three,” the AI said. “She was one of the trio added to the crew just before launch.”

“Ah, she did say she wanted to say more. Lilith, you are not to gossip about anything you hear said in front of me. I must be seen as discrete. Honestly, part of me thinks I should send you back to the concubine quarters. AI, allow Dunning to enter,” I commanded.

The door slid open. A woman quickly darted through the door and then looked back at it as it closed. The instant it was secure she turned to me and saluted. “Lance Corporal Amy Dunning,” she called out.

I looked at the young woman. The only previous meeting we had was brief and I was concerned with organizing the boarding of Freya. Now I could take the time to look more closely and I was surprised to realize that the young woman in front of me was likely only nineteen or twenty. She did not have any signs that she was still growing, but there was a lack of maturity showing in the shape of her torso and face. She had unremarkable dark brown hair that was in a ponytail. I could not see the end of the ponytail, but the thickness of the hair hinted that it reached to her waist or lower.

Amy had stood there stoic while I looked over her. I finally returned the salute and the woman relaxed slightly. “You said I could meet with you and talk more,” the woman said.

I nodded. “I am willing to listen. Admiral Himmel’s brief message to me about you said you had previous battle experience. You are the only member of my crew who has fought the Sa’arm already.”

Amy nodded. “I was in multiple battles while a member of Sif’s crew. Most were brief skirmishes in systems that we don’t even bother to name. The Sa’arm don’t find every system welcoming and often we just spar with scouts. Its only when they find a planet that had resources and atmosphere that they send their larger ships.”

“Places like Wolf Three Six Seven?” I asked.

Amy frowned. “You had to bring that up so quickly?” she almost whined.

“It seems to have had a massive impact on the district. We are carrying a number of concubines who lost their owners due to that battle or the earlier one as Ursus Twelve. I understand that you were on Sif, but then took time off due to an injury suffered during the battle,” I said.

Amy looked down at her hands. “My gunball got hit by some kind of energy weapon. My controls were overloaded and the gunball itself filled with energy. I immediately headed to the stern elevator. They tell me that they had to pull my gunball out of the elevator and were expecting to just retrieve a corpse from the cockpit. But I had survived.”