Tasmanian SFG, Book II: Devils to Me (Tasmanian series 2) by C. R. Daems

Author:C. R. Daems [Daems, C. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Talon Novels
Published: 2020-01-28T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Planet Delphi: Adventures in Dating

"That was…words fail me," Medina said after being released from her eight-hour Vanquishing Fear session. Her clothes were soaked with sweat and she was several shades paler. "How many more sessions?"

"It's up to you, but I'd recommend a total of eight. Although the exercise is called Vanquishing Fear, the real intent is not to eliminate your fear; it's to get control of it so you have a clear mind to act."

"That's how you managed to survive your encounter with the Moech?" she asked, leaning forward and sipping her coffee.

"Yes, without my training, there was no way I could have considered my very limited options with the few seconds available to me. I probably would have just chosen to go down fighting. But I was wounded enough that faking death was a reasonable choice." I laughed. "I hadn't considered they would drag me back to camp as a trophy."

"This training enabled you to slow your heart and breathing enough to fake death?"

"Meditation along with this training. I will give you exercises you can practice that will help you in your everyday life."

"Like your encounter with Sergeant Duggin? But why didn't it work with Major Lloyd?" she asked, eyes wide with interest.

"Duggin was insulting me personally. Since I didn't care what he thought of me, there was no reason to fight him. The same was true for Lloyd while he was insulting me; however, when he began insulting my brother Tasmanians, I couldn't let that go unanswered without bringing shame on them."

Medina nodded, understanding. "Alright, I know I won't like it, but after hearing how and what you survived, I think it will be worth the emotional trauma." She gave a choked laugh.

* * *

Over the next couple of months, I managed to go out with Medina, Shirley, and Clare several times to an assortment of nightclubs. It felt like sticking my toe in the water to test the temperature before jumping in. Each time, we were joined by men who never served in the military. I think their choice of clubs was intentional and for my benefit, as the men's occupations varied from construction to engineering to office executives. That in itself was an education.

This evening, we were at a rowdy club with men who were predominately hard-working laborers. The music was lively, and I had been dancing with a muscular man at least twelve centimeters taller than me. We had just returned to our table when my emergency call unit buzzed.

"Sorry," I said looking at the message.

Meeting in one hour outside the headquarter building.

"Duty calls." Looking around the table, no one else had a message, not even Colonel Medina. She shrugged, acknowledging she too thought that strange. "I guess they don't need the sane component of the military," I quipped, wondering what that meant.

"Try following your orders this time," Shirley said as I rose to go.

"Easier said than done. I appear to have trouble with following orders. It's boring." I waved goodbye.

"What does she do for a living?" I heard my dance partner ask.

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