Alien Skies by Carmen Webster Buxton

Author:Carmen Webster Buxton [Buxton, Carmen Webster]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780997989892
Publisher: Cracked Mirror Press
Published: 2019-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

KAMUHI dove into learning about the security department’s systems and the staff. He asked Quolund to rotate his shift so that he had a chance to work with everyone fairly soon. In his workouts, the master sergeant insisted that Kamuhi continue practicing with his right arm tied. Within three days, Kamuhi could get past Corporal Joranchh’s guard, and on the fourth he threw him several times in the session. Sergeant Quolund watched approvingly. The fifth day, Joranchh was gone and in his place Quolund introduced Private Schubert, a tall Terran, not that much shorter than Kamuhi. He was a good deal more experienced than Petersen and a good deal stronger than Joranchh. Kamuhi hit the mat with alarming regularity.

He was limping a little when he walked back to his office after that practice, and his side was sore, too. Schubert was very enthusiastic about throwing him, and he wasn’t as good as Joranchh had been at checking his blows. When he landed a hit, Kamuhi felt it.

When Kamuhi came through his office door, he was surprised to see that someone was sitting in his chair and using his terminal. As the man looked up, he saw that it was Jared and he came to attention.

“As you were, Ensign,” Jared said. “You’ve only got one other chair, so you’d better sit in it. I’m not getting up.”

He clicked the sign-off key and then watched as Kamuhi limped across the room.

“You look terrible, Ensign. What have they been doing to you here in Security?”

“Sergeant Quolund is helping me overcome a tendency to rely too much on my right hand, sir,” Kamuhi said, wincing as he sat down.

“So what does he do for that—beat you with a stick?”

“Not quite, sir. Before I start a practice fight, he ties my right hand so that I can’t use it.”

Jared shook his head. “Did you ever think of ordering him not to do that, Ensign?”

“Yes, sir, I think of it every time someone gets past my guard. But there’s not much point in putting someone in charge of something if you’re not going to let him really run it, is there, sir?”

Jared leaned back in Kamuhi’s chair. “You’ve learned a lot since you joined up.”

“Yes, sir. Did you want something, sir, or are you just checking up on me?”

Jared pressed the button on the desk that shut the door. He leaned back and put his feet on Kamuhi’s desk.

“Make yourself at home, Jared,” Kamuhi said.

“Mind your manners, or I’ll open the door and make you say ‘sir’ every third word again. How are you getting along?”

“Fine,” said Kamuhi. “I’m still worried about my Miloran social scientists in Yiangliun, but this is an interesting place to work. Yulayan likes being back in Wisuta, and Malia has made friends. Everything is fine.”

“Not quite, Kam,” said Jared. “I wish it were—I wish I didn’t have to tell you this, but Inchauro Perduay escaped from custody today.”

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