Take the Blame
…
Link and Line stood in front of Alfonzo's desk, flanked by the three airmen who had pulled them off Airman Robert. Both had yet to say anything to each other, staring at the floor as they assumed that their lives were definitely over. Attacking a fellow airman, something which they had seen plenty of times, was a firing offense on the ship, and they both had attacked Robert. Robert had been fired on-sight, so the boys were now just waiting for their turn.
When Captain Alfonzo entered, it was after he flung the doors open hard enough to make all five room occupants jump. Link was not sure whether his mind was playing tricks on him or the captain was purposefully stamping his feet against the deck. Neither boy looked up as he rounded his desk and put a hand on the back of his chair.
He waved a finger at the three airmen and told them in a (relatively) calm tone, "Out." They saluted and left, making both boys feel naked and exposed in front of their captain as he sat down. For what felt like a decade of their lives, he stared at both boys, and they had looked up to meet his stare.
"Who started the fight?"
"I did!"
Alfonzo glared at them, annoyed that both of them were vying for the blame. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the desk. "You boys want some time to get your story straight?" he asked.
"Yes!" Line said at the same time Link replied, "No!"
Alfonzo raised his eyebrows. "Believe it or not, I know one of you boys is lying."
Line stepped forward. "Captain, I started the fight. Link was trying to stop me."
"I don't recall asking for volunteers, Airman," Alfonzo snapped at him. Line jumped and stepped backwards. Then Alfonzo glanced at Link and said, "Is this true, Airman Link?"
Link visibly steeled himself and declared, "No, sir."
"I thought as much," Alfonzo replied. He pointed a finger at Line. "Airman Line, get out."
"Aye, sir," Line replied, saluting. Alfonzo dismissed the salute with a small motion, and Line rushed out of the cabin with as much dignity as he could.
Link felt even more vulnerable than before and stiffened his stance. His heart was beating, and it felt as if the pit of his stomach had punched a hole in the deck in an effort to escape. He had been alone with Alfonzo before, but those times had been so Link could assist him with inventory and recording their business transactions. But this had him frightened beyond belief. He knew his and Line's antics had gotten them into trouble with the captain before, but this was the first time they had actually and blatantly attacked a crewmate.
Alfonzo rose, and Link felt much smaller than usual. The captain stepped around his desk and slowly walked behind Link. "Airman," he said, stopping where Link could not see him. "I hope you realize that I pride myself in detecting lies."
Link swallowed, and his voice emerged a little cracked. "Y-yes, sir."
"So." Alfonzo stepped back around Link and leaned on his desk, arms crossed. "What Robert said to you must have been serious fighting words; as far as I know, the only one you've ever traded punches with before is Line."
Link actually felt a little relief when he spoke up and asked, "You believe that I started the fight, sir?"
"I believe that Line has only taken responsibility for something when he knows your ass is on the line. I have to admit that I'm surprised, Airman."
Link glanced down at the floor. "Yes, sir."
"Keep in mind, though, that it doesn't mean the two of you were in the right," Alfonzo said. "The only reason I fired Robert on the spot was because you've got a bigger shiner than him. You and Line are still in trouble."
Link nodded. "So… that means we're both fired?"
Alfonzo put on a confused look. "Fired? Should I?"
Link also put on a confused face and looked back up at his captain. "Those are the regulations. Right?"
"Hardly," Alfonzo replied as he stood up and stepped around to his chair. He sat down and continued in a level voice, "If I fired every airman that got into a fistfight, I'd be working with a skeleton crew, Airman. The regulations don't allow me to fire someone on the spot unless they've been a chronic discipline problem or have been undermining business. What it comes down to, Airman, is that you just happened to pick a fight with one of the worst engineer's mates I've ever had to deal with."
Link blinked, suddenly aware of the kind of luck that was working for him. "Oh."
"Now what caused this?" the captain asked, his frustration coloring his even tone.
"I-I think it started when we retrieved Robert after the festival," Link said. "We heard stories about what he did while he was drunk, and he asked us not to tell anyone else about all of it." He shrugged. "Line… told people."
Alfonzo nodded, his elbows resting on the table and his fingers threaded together, hiding his mouth. "The airman has always had trouble with secrets… Continue."
"Well, about a week later, someone stole our clothes and left us with dresses. We had to wear them for duty, and he… took pictures of us while we were sweeping out the hold."
"Why didn't you report this?" Alfonzo asked.
"W-well, uh… it was… it was-it was kinda embarrassing, Captain."
"As embarrassing as getting thrown off for losing your uniforms in the first place?" Alfonzo asked with another angry rise in his tone.
Link looked down at the deck. "N-no, sir…"
"What else?"
Link hesitated for a moment. Then he said, "W-well, we, uh… we… shaved his head, Captain."
Alfonzo's tone was completely flat. "You what."
"We-we shaved and polished his head, sir. When we found out he stole our uniforms, we waited until he was sound asleep, completely shaved his head, and coated it with furniture polish."
He looked up when he realized that Alfonzo had fallen completely silent. His eyes were narrow, but with his mouth covered by his hands, it was hard for Link to tell what his response was. Link could hear the captain wheezing while he exhaled and took it as a sign that Alfonzo was trying to keep himself calm. "And then?" the captain asked.
"Well, tonight, when the movie ended, he put slides of us in the dresses in front of the projector so that the crew could see," Link said. "I-I was trying to stop Line, but… but what he said…"
"That'll be enough, Airman." Link glanced down at the deck again while the captain stood. Wordless, Alfonzo moved to the windows at the rear of his cabin and appeared to contemplate the night sky with his hand clasped over his mouth. Link, upon looking up, thought he saw Alfonzo's shoulders shiver a bit.
Then Alfonzo spun around. "Airman, you and Airman Line are to have your pay halved," he told Link in an angry tone. "On our next stop to Skyrider Port, you two will be relieved of duty for the next three months. Instead, you'll be working in the office, still under half-pay." He took two steps toward Link. "And let me make it clear that if this ever happens again, you and Airman Line will be fired. Understood, Airman Link?"
"Y-yes, sir!" Link replied.
"Good." Then Alfonzo took another step forward and swung a hand with his finger pointed at the door. "Now GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT, AIRMAN!"
Link immediately tore for the door and was out of the room in the blink of an eye.
