* * *
“Ahhh…” Ardon sighed in tired relief. He was finally packed away, his teensy room stuffed with the treasures he had brought along to make this journey more bearable. The cabin, designed for four or more midshipmen, was filled to overflowing with his and Tashi’s baggage until he had managed to harangue Captain Bedan into removing the mattress from the hinged upper bunk. Stuffing the space behind the now closed panel with clothing and other whatnots tidied up the place, making it more livable.
The room was very small, only seven by seven feet. The two bunks, each being less than three feet wide, were usually shared by two officers, rotating in shifts. This was often increased to three during wartime when extra personnel were aboard. But, for Ardon, this was way too small a place for him, alone. And what of Tashi? Certainly she would find such cramped accommodations deplorable. Oh yes, she had been a good girl, saying nothing when being delivered here. In fact, she was being strangely quiet since lunch, just dropping her things and leaving, saying she needed to discuss some important issues with some fellow councilors.
Looking around, Ardon fussed, “Can see why she didn’t want to stay. Miserable little hole in the wall! Could have given us the first mate’s room… It’s a little bigger and further away from the engine room. At least it would have been showing a little more respect.”
Ardon looked around, unhappy. “Oh, bother!” And then smiled, spying the mug of hot brew recently delivered. He stepped over to the tiny foldout desk/table, easing himself into a small wooden chair across from the opened doorway. Grinning, he picked up the mug. “A just reward for a job well done...”
His musings were interrupted by a hammering echo of hurried footsteps on the metal deck plates in the hallway. He turned to see Mihai stopped on the threshold. Smiling, he was preparing to offer a salutation when his world suddenly exploded around him.
“Bastard!” Mihai cried.
Ardon’s chair spun around, smashing into the cot before it folded up and crashed to the floor, his mug twirling from his fingers, flinging its liquid contents everywhere, loudly shattering on the paneled floor. The scattering of papers and books the man did not notice, having the breath knocked from him when the monster in the doorway lunged in and crushed him against a wall locker.
And monster it was... When the blinding pain eased from hitting his head at being slammed against the cabin wall, Ardon saw only a seething, red-faced beast staring at him, its chest heaving with an angry passion. The malice growing in the monster’s eyes was too overwhelming! He panicked, seeking escape, his feet slipping in his struggle to get away. At last, he whimpered to be let go.
Enraged, Mihai drove her weight into Ardon, her arm pressed across his throat. She screamed in his face, “Shut up, you fool, or I’ll kill you now! You worthless shit-weed!”
Ardon could not shut up, nor could he desist in his struggles, the man being too terrified to even think of anything other than a looming death if he did not get away. Mihai’s insults slowly subsided with her energy, she finally realizing that Ardon might really be dying.
By now Ardon stood limp, Mihai pressing him against the wall, keeping his feet under him. His face had turned purple and his eyes were glazing over as they blankly stared up toward the ceiling. Calming somewhat, she realized what was happening and, it not having been her intention to hurt Ardon in the first place, Mihai eased off on her grip to give the man a chance to breathe.
It took several moments for Ardon to regain his senses. His breath remained raspy, but his face was recovering its color. The man was still in too great a state of shock to speak a word. During this time, a crowd had gathered at the doorway, they having come running when the sounds of a struggle were heard echoing down the corridors. At seeing Mihai, none dared to enter or even speak. Some slunk away while others stood bewildered, watching events unfold.
Mihai angrily spat, “Only godless demons publicly rape a woman! Do you seek also my sister’s murder?! What kind of a creature are you?!”
Ardon was dumbfounded. He shook his head in confusion, totally befuddled over what Mihai was talking about.
Shaking in frustrated rage, Mihai shouted contemptuously, “You ignorant... worthless...bastard! Do you think my little sister, Darla, has no soul?! That she is some heartless wild dog, to be beaten and driven away?!”
Pushing herself back, Mihai turned and stepped toward the doorway. Ardon slowly slid down the wall ‘til he sat on his haunches, clutching his throat and blinking away a growing headache.
As she reached the doorway, Mihai spun around again, her eyes a blazing inferno. Her hands shaking in contempt, she leaned forward, pointing a finger at him.
Ardon cowered, squirming. Throwing his hands up, his face a fright, he begged, “Please! Please! My Lord! Don’t…”
Mihai was furious. “Don’t ‘my Lord’ me! You’re not one of mine! The dung heap with you! If you were not one of Mother’s favorites, I’d not let you live this long!” She made a fist, shaking it. “Ardon, nothing man, I swear, as I live, if you ever mistreat my sister again, I’ll rip you open from gizzard to gonad and scatter your guts across a field! I swear it, Ardon! As I live, I swear it!”
Spying Darla’s blouse lying on the floor, Mihai picked it up and flung it into Ardon’s face. “You get my girl a new one, or repair this like new! Don’t even think of seeing my face until you’ve made it proper. You get it done right and bring it back to me!”
She stormed out, the gathered crowd scattering like leaves before a tempest. In all the confusion, Mihai nearly bowled over Captain Bedan, who was just arriving after being informed of trouble aboard the Shikkeron. Jumping back in surprise, a dumbfounded Bedan stared speechless at the advancing woman.
Mihai made no attempt to slow down. As she brushed past him, she fumed polite, “Permission to board!” a courtesy she had failed to offer earlier.
Still hurling curses under her breath, thinking of additional denunciations she wished to have cast, Mihai hurried down the Shikkeron’s belly ramp, her hands still clenched in angry fists. She glanced up to the sound of someone quietly singing a merry little tune. Ma-we was fiddling with one of the wheels on her personal carriage.
Looking at Mihai as though surprised and then at the darkening sky, she chimed cheerily, “Looks like a storm’s approaching. Well, I guess I arrived here just in time.”
Eyeing her mother, Mihai sourly replied, frowning, “I’d say you waited for the storm to end. Let me make a fool of myself first, and then you arrive so innocently.”
Ma-we grinned the culprit. “Mother gets so busy sometimes, she just forgets the hour. I did intend not to be late, you know. And I think I wasn’t, either. Now, tell your dear mother what you’re all about. What storm?”
Mihai saw right through Ma-we’s sweet innocence. She began to laugh. “All right! Have it your way.” The sound of distant thunder rumbled across the spaceport. Looking into the sky, Mihai asked, “Will you take me to my ship, or at least allow me use of your carriage?”
Being so polite, Ma-we graciously offered her child the use of the machine. As Mihai started away, she called out to her, “Send it back, Darling, as soon as you’re done. My luggage is still in it.”
Mihai waved, shouting back she would. Ma-we turned toward the Shikkeron and made for the ramp. “And now for my other darlings...” She slowly shook her head, smiling, “Tsk, tsk… So much to do... So much to do...”