SImp

"T'gerr," Sarge shouted.

Oh! Oh! I thought I'm in for it now.

"Follow me!" He snapped, and the two of us trotted to what turned out to be the complex's kitchen.

A very attractive young man was on duty in the kitchen. I was standing safely back so he wouldn't notice me, too many had already. I was attempting to get some more of that slimy stuff out from under my blouse and reach an itch that I had been so far unsuccessful in reaching. I had been dancing, for the past hour, trying to get at the itches. Every time I thought no one was looking, I'd go for an itch. Suddenly I realized that the Sarge and the young man in the white jacket were laughing at me!

"She's a mess," the Sarge said pointing to me. "Serina. Hurry and clean up. Then get back on duty, I'll cover for you," Then, his eyes twinkling, he turned and marched away.

"Thanks, Sarge," I said, as I slipped my tunic over my head. It was when I was down to my teddy, all dotted with red hearts that had caused me so much embarrassment this afternoon that I realized he was staring at me. I started to blush, as I imagined what this cute young man must be thinking. Suddenly he blushed himself and gathered up my clothes for me, putting them in the ultraclean unit.

Now I had the opportunity to slip out of the teddy with relative privacy. I'm as casual about skin as the next gal, but undressing in front of an audience was not something that I did every day. I dropped that small wisp of lace into his hands from over his back, as it didn't appear that he was going to look at me. (Was I that ugly?)

"It's down the left-hand hall," the young man said pointing down a hallway, "I'll bring your uniform to you in five minutes," he said, still looking at the Ultraclean.

I stalked off to the 'fresher, in high dudgeon, my feelings hurt. I wasn't going to give 'him' the chance of laughing at me. I turned my head to glance over my shoulder and since he was now looking my way nodded my head in acknowledgment. He stared at me the whole way to the 'fresher. With that sixth sense that tells a woman that she is being looked at, I could feel his eyes on me. There was a sonic that I used to blast the gunk off me. However, I could never resist a real shower—-so programming it for hot and quick, I stepped in, reveling in the heat, loving the feeling as the water trickled down my body, warmly caressing it. I didn't have much time—it seemed that I had just stepped in when the quick dry cycle came on blowing warm air. At home I prefer a towel, loving the tingly feeling, and the way it massages my skin, it always leaves my skin feeling alive, and glowing.

A knock on the door interrupted my reverie. My blushing young man, hopefully, was at the door with my clothes. I opened it partially, not going to take the chance of offending him with the sight of me. There on the top of the bundle, in all of its white and red glory, was my teddy—I was so mad, what right did he have? I started to blush and attempted to grab my clothes, the door accidentally slipped from my foot and swung wide open. He blushed, a vivid red, matching my own color. Taking the bundle from his nerveless hands, I spun about kicking the door shut with my foot.

He sure was the nervous type, and he blushed easily too, which was unusual. The first thing I was going to do after I dressed, was to find some way of getting back at him, and his blushing manner gave me a dilly of an idea.

I walked down the hall, into the kitchen, and right up to him. Grasping his lifeless-hands, I pulled myself into close chest-to-chest contact; all the while I was trying to look him right in the eye, something he was avoiding. However, no sooner had I pursed my lips to kiss him when Sarge appeared in the doorway, as if he had just ported there, and snapped, "Specialist T'gerr!"

"Sir!" I snapped, as I figuratively jumped out of my skin, and jumped away from my target. I had not been expecting anything to interrupt my nefarious plans for this poor helpless sap.

"Report, on the double."

"Yes, Sir!" I whirled to face the Sarge and saluted, and we both left at a trot.

The platoon was already drawn up in formation, at parade rest. Sarge and I slipped into our places just in time. For the Duke, escorted by Lady de Winter, strolled up to the formation, not a minute after we arrived.

Sarge barked, "'ten—Hut!" And we all snapped to rigid attention, in the way that only Imperial Marines can. "Parade—'hess!" the Sarge snapped after the Duke was in position and facing us. The Duke started in extolling the virtues of our combat skills. I listened with a quarter of an ear, almost asleep, in the manner of all veteran troops when given a chance to relax. Your ears perked for anything concerning you, but otherwise, the words just rolled over you, as if the words were waves on the beach.

He had been droning on for only a short time when Sarge snapped "Atten'—Hut!" and we all snapped to, "Specialist T'gerr—Front and Center!" My jaw almost dropped, why me? Frantically I tried to recall just what had been said earlier, as I marched up to the front snapping to attention at the Sarge's side.

"Specialist T'gerr," the Duke said, a pleased self-satisfied cat-ate-the-canary half-smile on his face. "I just received official word that you won the unarmed combat category. So it is with pride that on behalf of the Emperor We present you with this ribbon." He approached me and pinned the ribbon on my tunic, just above my left breast. My first real ribbon—nearly everyone else in the platoon had rows of them. "As a reward for your achievement, I have a field commission to Lieutenant, and I am assigning you to my staff. Your first duty is a two-week leave, at my expense, at my resort—the Crystal Cove on Caribbia. Sergeant!" Sarge smartly marched up to me and pinned on my lieutenant's bars, stepped back and saluted me—I was so surprised that I almost forgot to return his salute.

"Sergeant, dismiss the platoon. Lieutenant T'gerr, I want to see you immediately. Lady de Winter will you join us?" The Duke tucked my arm in his, leaving the Lady de Winter to follow us. So arm in arm the Duke escorted me into the Pagoda, leaving Sarge somewhat slack-jawed at this disregard of protocol.

The study was opulent, to say the least—the walls were real wood, Terran oak, a soft, thick maroon carpet was on the floor. "I've decided to take a personal interest in your career, Lieutenant. I've studied your files closely, and I think you will fit in perfectly with my staff, besides," he grinned mischievously, "I like the way you fight (as his eyes raked me from head to toe and back again.) I must leave immediately; I'm expected at the palace. The Lady de Winter will brief you as to your other duties. I'll join you in a couple of weeks, at the Crystal Cove." Then taking my hand, he bowed low and slowly, sensuously, kissed it, which sent chills up my arm. "Until we meet again." The Duke said, an undecipherable glint in his eye, and he turned and strode out the door.

Lady de Winter gestured me to a leather covered executive chair close to her desk saying, "Please make yourself comfortable. May I offer you a drink?"

"Thank you, a cold glass of lemon aid, please."

"My dear Serina you'll ruin your health drinking that stuff." She pressed a button on the desk and snapped "A glass of lemon aid, and a snifter of cognac—the study." The Lady de Winter sat quietly engaged in introspection for several minutes, suddenly she looked at me and said, "So that you understand, this is 'my' operation, despite what the dear Duke thinks. I've seen your file also; you are for yourself, first, last, and only. I've read how you clawed your way out of that ghetto where you were born. You've now seen how fast advancement can be for those I like. If you work with me (and then she looked me over just as the Duke had before her), you'll have power and riches beyond your wildest dreams."

Leaning forward, licking my lips hungrily I said, "Tell me more Lady de Winter."

That attractive but nervous young man interrupted us and presented our drinks. "You and I will get along just fine, but please call me Cynthia."

"Cynthia . . ." I repeated in a slightly dazed voice, as I accepted my glass.

As the busboy left the room, Cynthia said, "The Duke wants you to screen some candidates for his cherished Ninjas, only I want you to make sure that the ones you pass are loyal only to me. While you are at the Crystal Cove, after you have enjoyed your vacation, you will stay on and train a select group of Imperial Marines that I will be sending there. Select only the best. When you are ready, send them here for advanced training, and I'll brief them and give them the final OK."

"This all sounds good, m' Lady—"

''Cynthia," she interjected. ''Cynthia," I acknowledged, stumbling over the word, "I know you can deliver on the riches end, but power?" I questioned, with just the right amount of hope and doubt in my voice.

"The dear Duke is planning a coup—we will assassinate the Emperor, and all the Senators, except this region's Imperial Senators and a few others."

"Why not all of them." I interrupted.

"Because they are on my payroll. After our wedding the Duke dies—then I will be the leader of the entire known universe. Support me, and you could be adopted as the Princess heir apparent. You have access to the Duke. He has taken a fancy to you I know the signs. When I give you the signal—kill him. I'm childless—after I'm gone, the empire will be yours. You could easily kill him; you're better than he is—I saw you throw the fight this morning."

"I'll be an Imperial Princess?" I repeated dazedly, "You've got yourself a partner, Cynthia!" I held up my glass, which she touched with hers then we both drank to the future.