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Mother Confessor:

Ugh! That had to be the least restful experience I have ever had. Throwing my legs over the edge of the bunk, and removing the buildup around my eyes. Following my routine in defiance of my less than enthusiastic take, in my current mental and physical state. Each article of my issued clothing seemed to put up a fight as I put them on. Uttering, “c’mon”, as I struggled with my two pairs of boots as I lace them up. Whether I liked it or not I was going to go about my daily routine. Suppose this is that disciplined side of service that I opted into. Not that I ever held the illusion that it was going to be a pleasant outdoor eating gala.

Pushing my stiff limbs into locomotion I head off on my morning work out in the wee hours of the morning. Hopefully that will lighten my sour mood. Stretching out my sore arms as I march out of the barracks to the PT facilities.

Starting with a good stretch, and moving into pushups. Each rise is actually helping my mood, as I push for a hundred as my goal. The repetitive motion left my mind open to wonder about today’s armor training. I am looking forward to the lesson as there was none yesterday. Sweat beading on my arms and shoulders rounding fifty. Keeping a steady rhythm continuing the exercise. Then it crosses my mind while working my muscles, slowly becoming more and more drenched in sweat. What if that plant like creature I had saved, was made ill due to a toxic biochemical release from the burnt incision in her thick skin. It was not unheard of since some species experience similar symptoms when damaged in certain organs. The toxin would in effect start a system shut down, and in some cases be extremely painful in the process. That may explain why she began to improve after removing the dead tissue from the wound.

Rolling on to my back, with knees up. Time to work on my abdominal muscles, even though this shortened my breath the longer I did them. Setting my sights on the same amount as the pushups. Beginning the task coated liberally on my upper torso with sweat. One thing about the alien female that still perplexes me, has more to do with the ones who had put her in such a position in the first place. What was their purpose in removing her clutch of pollinated seeds? Let alone why had they felt the need to explore her genitalia? Only thing that comes to mind is for some nefarious agenda. And that they had done so with malicious intent as part of the method and process. It was a very crude way of exploring anatomy, and then stealing parts from the subject. As I understand, they could have simply done a bio scan of her. Perhaps they lacked the ability to do so out of either intent, or from lack of technological advancement. The thought sickens me to think whoever they were held any formal medical training, let alone claimed to be professionals. At least I never implied that what I had done over the centuries as being right, despite how much I enjoyed doing it. I have boundaries as to what I would and would not do. Even though I technically had complete autonomy. Never once did I stoop to degradation and humiliation by molesting or mutilating their genitals. A monster with ethics and morals, conflicting concepts.

Getting back on my feet, with a burning core and sore diaphragm. I set about a good long run after accumulating more sweat. Keeping a steady pace along the kilometer track. Well I just hit an odd thought wall. I become more interested in the violation and the violators, than the violated. Have I removed parts of bodies from those I have interrogated? Sure, but not vital organs, or a pregnancy. Never came across a mother bearing signs of impregnation in my many years. I suppose some of the females brought to me were in the very early stages, but how was I to know? It was not apart of my service to check for such things in my SOP. As satisfying both mentally and sexually, business was not personal just business. Yet I find the way that they had dissected and explored the female plant to be a personal aspect outside of whatever their reasoning behind the action. Could just claim curiosity as a factor in their proceedings, but that was just an excuse to hide behind. At least as I see it.

Rounding into my third lap around the synthetic textured running track. My feet pounding the slightly softer surface coating the metal floor. My entire frame was coated liberally with skin secretion, sticking my clothes to it. Just about in an endorphin fueled state as I keep running. Feeling like I never want to stop being in motion as I travel. Nice to be left in my thoughts and no external distractions as I went about the early morning activities.

Marckus:

Throwing my legs over the edge of the bunk, still a little tired from our little chat with the Uldivarion Commander that had stretched into the late night hours. Feeling the welts from where the bullets had contacted me from the day before. Sitting a moment thanking the armored coats ability to disperse the bulk of the energy of the impact points. Otherwise I would be dead back on Callisto. Pretty much every battle field that I have ever stepped foot into while on Terra. Really damned glad to have never taken a coil bolt, in the few skirmishes with the Centurian . For as tough as the old coat is, I doubt it would have been much protection against them.

Enough of that, get up and get on with your day. Standing up getting myself prepared to get down to the thick of things. Dressing in the silence. Time to pay my friend a visit. Lacing up my boots and placing the relic of a mask over my scarred up features. Setting off down the corridor to see what Graxis can tell me about the trainee. My thoughts straying to how nice a hot cup of coffee would be over the discussion of the blue female. The flow of bodies in the corridor begin to get heavier. As it fills with personnel going off to their various vocations.

Still having trouble with coming to terms with what happened to Red Wolf on Callisto, as I continue to the captain’s quarters. Still cannot imagine what she must be going through after that malicious violation of both her body and mind. She must have been really shaken up throughout the ordeal. Hope she will at least seek some form of counseling to help her get past it. She may be one of the toughest women I know, but anyone can be broken.

Trying to not let it invade upon my task at hand, as I traverse the last few meters to his door. Standing before the metal hatch separating me from the captain. Knocking on the hard surface announcing my presence.

Graxis:

“Enter”, I address the one knocking upon my door. Who could that be and what do they want? Turning my attention to the door as it hisses open to reveal the Ober-Commander behind it.

“Sir”, I address him.

“How about we discuss this over a pot of coffee, Graxis”, he says, the metal door closing behind him.

“Yes of course, sir”, I relay punching the command into my console.

“Were you being serious about firing nuclear missiles last night, sir”, asking as I still am unsettled by such a notion.

“It is an option to put up on the table. Seeing as we need to be ready for anything the Chairmen and Confederation might throw at us. Though it is as I had already outlined last night. They would only be used against tin men. Trying to avoid as much collateral damage as possible”, he replies.

After hearing it again I am still unsure of using such weapons. He is after all trying to be as discrete with the nuclear weapons as possible. The Uldivarions seem to agree that in such a case, as he alludes to. That the fission bombs would be contained in the debris by using them in bunker busters. Essentially nullifying, or severely reducing the radioactive fallout on the surface.

Shortly after the pot of coffee and cups arrive. Watching as the old soldier reveals his face hidden behind the gasmask, as I pour the hot liquid into the mugs.

“What do I owe for this visit”, I ask handing him one of the mugs. He takes a drink before getting to the root of him being here.

“Tell me about your trainee, Graxis. Has she been doing well under your supervision”, he inquires. Taking a generous mouthful from my own cup.

“Despite what I had thought, she indeed is doing quite well. The senior surgical tech Arinassi feels that she has exceeded her expectations in both field and surgical medicine. As for armor training. Major Rinvon is rather disappointed that he cannot give her much more than a crash course. As well as a live fire exercise”, I pause for another drink before continue,” As for myself, she has been most diligent at being where she needs to be and on time. Working out every morning to buildup strength and stamina. She has come a long way from where she started. Sergeant Nimix was not, in my opinion the best of choices for training. Specifically when it came to sword play. Though I have been personally teaching her to wield a blade, she has much to improve. That is not to say that she is not progressing well.” Subconsciously rubbing the sore spot on my neck where she had landed the wooden blade.

“She tag you pretty good there Captain”, he asks a light laugh in his tone.

“Yes, quite good”, I reply. Taking another drink, and wondering if this information is pleasing to him in regards to my responsibility.

Marckus:

I would have been impressed if Dlynvacko had not spoiled the exceptional matter in the blue woman’s head. I think it would be a good idea to hear it from her tutors mouths as well.

“She sounds like she has been doing well under your direction. I have to hand it to you, Graxis, I didn’t think you were the teaching type”, I applaud his success with the blue woman.

“Thank you, sir”, he returns refilling my mug, “I figured the best approach was firm, but fair.” A pointy grin on his face as he passes me the mug.

Taking a swig on the mug I ask,” How do you feel with me taking her out too Mars?” Watching the grin fade from his face, tells me he is unsure if this is a wise choice.

“Having doubts about her capability in the field, captain?” He takes a drink from his own mug.

“That is not my decision to make, sir,” he says to me a little jostled at the question,” I believe you should have a word with Major Rinvon before you decide it best to take her out into the field.”

My, captain are we nervous? Why is he concerned about me wanting to take her with me on a little field trip before the main event? Filling my mouth with the strong bitter liquid. Perhaps he feels she has not received a sufficient education in the basics of Killing 101.

“Graxis, you and I both know that training and actual combat are not the same. Shooting up targets that don’t fight back is not really going to prepare her for what she is training for”, I try to allay his fears,” besides it will be good for her to get a taste of what it is truly like to be a soldier. Unless you feel she still need training wheels, captain?’

Graxis:

The condescension in his tone stings, as he questions my thoughts toward my responsibility. Somehow the metaphor that I do not understand seems to add to the sting.

“No, sir”, cutting back at his jab,” you have made yourself quite clear. There is a big difference between targets and combatants.” Mildly angered at the fact he would even think such a thing.

“Then it is settled, Graxis”, he says sternly, but friendly,” anything else you wish to speak about.”

Taking another drink off my mug, I feel guilty about not giving him the personal console recovered back on Pluto. Peculiar how guilt plays on ones mind.

“I should like you to have the Major’s console”, I tell him despite my reservations of how he my react,” after all you and her seemed close, and it would only be fitting that I relieve it to you. “

Cocking his head and stares at me,” Yes, captain I should like her personal effect. May be more than a memento as her tag means a lot to me.” Well that was simpler than I thought it would be. The Ober-Commander is taking this quite well despite his personal feelings on the subject. Placing the half empty mug on the desk. I fetch the device from the drawer. Turning I hand it to him.

Marckus:

“Thank you, Graxis”, I say to him, peering down at the blank screen,” I will take a look at it once my business has concluded on Mars. Might find something interesting about Simone before we hit Terra. “

Hoping to get some closure to our rather messy break up. Still bothers me that things ended as they had. Despite trying to run from that pain, it caught up with me once again. Just throw it back on the stack of other things burdening my mind.

Topping off my cup of coffee from the pot on his desk. I leave the captain to his duties. Once back in the corridor, the console goes into my left cargo pocket. Heading off toward the staircase to have a chat with Major Rinvon about his student. Best to hear it from the horses mouth, as they say.