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11:18
Sergeant Faber Strong looked up from his book of poetry at the sounds of yelling from across the room. With a grimace of annoyance, he marked the page with the hair ribbon his daughter had given him for the purpose, laid the book aside, and got off his bunk.
When he neared the table, Faber’s hand fell to his hip, reflexively feeling for his sidearm before remembering the holster was draped over his bunk, complete with weapon. Corporal Steven Shads was shaking with rage, and the veins bulged in his forehead. Normally an average-sized man, he seemed to be a behemoth as he stared down Private Heather Hicks. She was doing her best to hide her fear, but wasn’t succeeding.
“What’s going on here?” Faber issued the question in a firm, level voice.
“The bitch cheated, Sarge.”
Faber looked at the mess of cards and chips scattered around the table and floor. “Poker, Shads?”
“Yes, sir,” said Heather. “I didn’t cheat, Sarge—”
Steven propelled himself forward, with only Faber’s hand on his arm keeping him in from reaching the private. “Lying cunt. How else do you explain getting a flush when I had a high card?”
“Luck.”
Her strident tone grated on Faber’s nerves, and he gritted his teeth. “Enough. You know the regulations about wagering. The ECA frowns on it, to say the least.” He glared down Steven, who seemed compelled to argue. “I don’t care what happened. Clean up this mess, shake it off, and get to bed.”
Once he was certain Steven was going to listen, Faber released his shoulder and turned back to his bunk. He had barely gone three steps when Heather appeared at his side. Without looking at her, he said, “That means you too. Clean it up.”
“Sarge, please, listen?”
Biting back a sigh, Faber turned to her. “What?”
“He’s juiced. It’s Rapid. I know it.”
Faber frowned. “That’s a serious accusation, Hicks. Where is your proof?”
She squirmed, not making eye contact. “It’s...well, it’s just a feeling, Sarge.”
Her body language screamed deception, and he had no patience for it. “Keep your feelings to yourself. You’re a soldier, Hicks. There’s no place for womanly intuition in the military,” he added mockingly.
With anger burning in her eyes, she nodded abruptly and turned back to assist Steven with cleaning up the mess. Faber returned to his bunk, opened the book from his daughter, and stared at her picture tucked into the front cover. The book was old, almost priceless, since it was printed on paper. It showed wear from generations of reading, and he could have earned enough to retire if he sold it.
It wasn’t worth a penny compared to the image of his daughter from her graduation day. The white robe the Columbia graduates wore accentuated Payton’s dark skin and hair, giving her the appearance of a Nubian princess.
He touched the corner of the picture, wishing he could call her up and talk to her. But long-range communications were reserved for official business, so it would be several months before he heard Payton’s voice again. By then, he would have a new grandson or granddaughter.
Bickering interrupted his reverie, and he looked up briefly to ensure Heather and Steven weren’t going for round two. Assured they were confining the argument to verbal, he lay back on his bunk, cradling the book on his chest.
Heather’s allegation preyed on his mind, and it made more sense than he wanted it to. Steven was mercurial, often responding with intense anger to the slightest provocation. He could stay awake three days straight and still be sharp, but he always seemed faintly on edge.
Never had he been anything but an exemplary soldier, which made it difficult for Faber to even think about investigating him for drug use. Especially on the word of the woman he had slept with for a short time and dumped brutally at the beginning of their mission.
Determined to keep an eye on the corporal, but not yet ready to risk Steven’s military career, Faber placed the book carefully in the footlocker beside him before rolling over to block out the light and noise from his bunkmates. Internally, he marked another day off the calendar in his mind. Just a few months left, and he would be back on Earth. This time, he really was going to retire. Payton would be so surprised when she found out he was finally agreeing with her that it was time to leave the ECA, settle down somewhere, and play Grandpapa.