Infiltration

Parental Advisory: Suggestive Themes

Ofira

Ofira was called to the Command Center to answer Commander Dard's questions about the brothel she operated on the defensive satellite installation. Though six crew stations existed, Ofira gratefully noticed they were all empty. There wouldn't be any witnesses of her getting a reprimand by the station commander.

Without preamble, the portly man began. "Your employees are too blatant." He scowled, but a sense of unease colored his words. "Your 'trade' shouldn't be flaunted."

Ofira nodded, looking out the vast deck-to-overhead portal into star-speckled infinity. Somewhere out there were the weapon platforms which protected the star system of Tihas from raiders and pirates.

And the Avudelians, who reportedly were headed toward Tihas. Fear spread like a plague before them.

"Do you hear me?" Dard snapped.

After shaking off the awe of the vista outside, Ofira said, "Yes. It's only that I'm always impressed with the immensity of the universe."

The commander wasn't deterred. "The entrance to your business." He pointed in the direction of her salon a few doors away from the command center. "You added a rendition of Breboa's wife, a clear sign of what your people do!"

Ofira was positive nobody was offended except Dard. After all, businesses like hers were scattered through Tihas. This meeting seemed an overreaction. Maybe he was worked up about something else, like fear of the Avudelians. They'd crushed all opponents. So far.

Not for the first time Ofira wondered if Dard was a bit of a prude. Probably worshipped Sidu. Besides, Ofira knew Sidu, Breboa and his wife, as well as other entities, despite being quite real, weren't ultimately powerful. So, only a follower of Sidu would be hurt by putting that particular symbol there. "Have you received any complaints?"

Dard swayed, as if dizzy, and grabbed the back of a crewman's chair. He sat, sweating profusely, and pivoted to face her. "Yes." Ofira caught a glimpse of a sign he made behind his back. Thumb and index finger squeezed together with middle finger reinforcing the index, symbolized the pinching off of life-giving fluids.

Ofira nodded to herself. Certainly Sidu. As for complaints, there would only be one, and that by the commander telling himself he was offended. "I see. Perhaps I can do something to placate the offended party."

Avarice might be Dard's motivation. She sent a question to the station's AI. "Kamor, is he looking for a bribe?"

"I'm duty bound to not answer that question," he sent back. "Regardless of the answer I cannot tell you."

Ofira's gaze went to the scene outside again, toward where the invaders would come from. After a moment the commander snapped a control and the portal switched to a desert scene from a fictional canister habitat. Nobody had succeeded in building a canister – yet.

Ofira decided to try offering him money. "Maybe a thousand credits would help ease the complainant's conscience."

Dard stood so violently the chair he'd been sitting in toppled and shot from the control panel to the door leading to the commander's office. He turned an apoplectic visage to Ofira. "You're trying to bribe me?" More sweat erupted from his forehead.

Ofira held up placating hands, but before she could speak a minor alarm bleeped. "What's that?"

The commander switched the portal to a sensor hologram. A fuzzy mass approached the Yardain Wall from the opposite side. "The Avudelians. They're here." Dard's expression turned to panic. "They'll kill us all!" He grunted in pain and clutched his chest. Face flushed, eyes bulging, he collapsed to the deck.

"Calling a medical team," Kamor said. "The commander has died. Massive coronary. They might save him if they hurry."

For five minutes Ofira stood aside, staring at Dard's lifeless figure, wondering what was happening. How could a medical team take so long to arrive? Shouldn't there be someone closer for…