"Everybody calm down!" Jess shouted to the 60-odd people crowded into the mess hall. Jess scheduled a special mandatory meeting for everyone on the ship. She paced with a large blade in her hand, slapping it against her other palm.
Cassidy scanned the crowd, grateful that she had a chance to change and tone down her makeup. She felt relaxed and comfortable. But she noticed someone was missing. The chief.
He probably thinks he's above it all, she thought.
"Listen up! I'm sure all of you know what's going on with the implants."
The crowd murmured in response.
"And I'm sure you understand what that means. If you don't, well, I'm not going to explain it to you. That's what your mommy and daddy are for."
People snickered here and there, but there were lots of covert glances, hungry looks and shielded smiles. People were already pairing up.
The door slid open and someone stood behind her. Cassidy could feel a towering presence. She looked around and saw women nearly salivating, men giving open stares of admiration. She did not need to turn around. She knew it was him.
"I'm going to look the other way on anything that happens over these three months, I won't say a word. But there are three conditions," Jess's voice boomed. "No pregnancies. No non-consensual nonsense. And most importantly, everything that happens on this ship, stays on this ship. No exceptions!"
Cassidy understood. This was a ship full of newly horny soldiers and attractive civilians. Things were bound to happen. No one needed rumors to start. If they did, most of the troops would face court-martial or worse. You could hear a pin drop.
"If anyone opens their mouth, if I hear a whisper of a rumor, I will hunt you down," Jess said, smiling wickedly and slapping the blade against her palm with a loud smack.
"Are we clear?"
There were nods all-around.
"Alcohol!" someone shouted from the corner, causing the crowd to crack up.
"And one more thing!" Jess shouted. "Stay the fuck out of my supply closet! If I catch you in there, you're getting a taste of my blade. Got it?"
Cassidy knew what was coming. It would be a free for all.
***
Cassidy stared at the sheet listing living quarter assignments, squinted, and found her name. She changed out of her dress in the tiny bathroom earlier, but it was horribly difficult. She felt like a contortionist.
She was looking forward to having real space to relax. She was exhausted. She needed sleep desperately.
She walked down the hall, found the door marked 2E, and pressed her palm against the door reader. The door slid open. She entered.
Wow, she thought, this place is tiny. It was not unlike a prison cell. A single bed, a small chair and table, and a tiny bathroom. So much for stretching out. She dropped her bags and sat on the bed, realizing that she hadn't eaten all day. She was famished.
She stepped out into the hall, her mind occupied, wondering what was on the menu that evening. Surely the food wouldn't be all that bad….
"Dr. Raines," a deep voice said. Cassidy jumped out of her thoughts to see the chief getting ready to enter his own room, his armor and helmet on but his cuirass unclasped so he could undress in private.
Of course, she thought, of course his quarters are right next to mine. She made a mental note to kill Jess in her sleep.
"Chief," she said breezily with a small nod. She picked up the pace and headed straight for the mess.
This was not what she wanted. She felt the best solution to her…fixation…was to avoid him. And on top of that, the walls between the two rooms were paper thin. She could hear everything, as could he.
Everything.