Col Xob was staring at me on the giant screen listening to what I had to say about Anna. I was relaxing on nearby ground, my legs hung around railing in front of me and slowly jiggling while I talked. The room was silently staring at me, never believing that I was this much arrogant and stupid to talk like I was talking with Admiral of the Army. But I was not, I was happy. I was talking about Anna, the recent combat with the deserters, Anna, relocating the refugees and their plight, Anna, the base that deserters had on Asteroid in nearby system, Anna...
Yeah my stories were made of a lot of backtracking and sidestepping to what I liked about Anna. I could hear laughs and snickers here and there while I digressed further into love-struck whirlpool that I was having hard time of backstroking out of. Upgrade in rank meant nothing to me, Col was staring at me more and more in disbelief that I turned into mushy fool talking about love. I could understand him, I was not a greatest man alive. Despite my growth spurt, so to speak, people accredited my growth to steroids, and they expected violent outbursts whenever they spoke about military accomplishments around the family. But I was just sad, I couldn't be angry, when emotionally, I did not know what was happening with Anna, at that time.
Despite my military hiatus, I never had any idea that I would get a chance to make it back and meet her again, I thought at least that she did not register me on her radar. A gorgeous young woman and below average man, I thought it only happens in novels, romance stories, and porn vids. Yeah I watched a lot of porn.
Col looked flabbergasted when I was done about my emotional tirade. I found myself standing and expressing myself to the Gods and Goddesses of the universe. I wanted them to see me in this time and space. Col forgot he was in a room filled with officers, behind both view screens, and started to talk in his old Dad voice.
"You rascal, you are utterly over the top in love with her." He started to cackle which is pretty uncharacteristic for an Admiral, which were always portrayed as noble warriors, one had to kiss their ass. "Now to break your bubble, I heard in there something about the deserter's base."
I made a sigh like a child that was denied his candy and sat back down, "Yeah, apparently they like went and made off with few slaves, I wrote a report about the entire incident, but I was thinking of gathering my unit ask for assistance and try to break them apart. Of course once we safely deliver these refugees." I really thought that this was so far in the ether from me that I did not care. Other people? They exist?
My tone was apparently too much for the bridge officer in charge of the bridge, "Captain Kal this is Admiral of the army. Why are you acting like a clown? You disrespect him and his position."
I was not listening to her, goofing off with my Father was something that I, we both enjoyed, gazing into her eyes while resting my back on my arms I asked with a simple, "Hmm?" My sudden change in tone apparently sent shivers down her spine, she knelt to the ground and silently said "Sorry."
She was shivering and I did not know why, I stood up to my feet looking oddly at her, "Miss why you are sorry? You didn't do anything wrong."
Col saw this and explained to me, "Umm, yeah she went and said your old rank. Military protocol calls out for 10 lashes with a whip and 10 nights in jail. That's one of the worst crimes one could do, right up with genocide and rape. According to the new military rules that is. Bah, its rubbish, everything about it is just for pretentious douchebags, but I'll leave you with her punishment."
I was blown away with this rule that made no sense, again, army had its way of making fun of itself by doing things that are pretty out there. But this thing left me flabbergasted, more than anything I was genuinely awestruck how people in suits think. The level of idiot is beyond reasonable, the one who came up with this rule must be the most out of touch guy in the universe. The room was coated in fear and anticipation, there were 6 people whom just blankly stared into the ground awaiting the guillotine to arrive on their own necks. To slice their soul and spirit in twain, like some old books would say. It was pretty insane to see this amount of fear for something as minor as mistaking ones rank. Gods!
"What's your name?" I asked lightly, not showing any emotion. I thought by asking her name I could ease some of the anxiety in the room.
But contrary to my own belief it made the situation worse, the woman in a silent whisper said, "Jaine, my name is Jaine Tuskus." She started silently sobbing. I could not believe the amount of foolishness that this created. Col stared at me silently, but I could see that he was slowly getting sad for some reason. The woman, Jaine, was now audibly crying, sobbing into her own shadow that the lights in the room were projecting on us. That's all what we were at that one moment as we were the ones condemning this poor soul into eternal walk into death.