Privateer's Commission 2 -ch 2-

Chapter 2

“I’m so damn fit now. I’m literally more fit now, than I was as a Confed officer,” Winnie said, holding her extremely tight fitting tank-top up and away from her stomach. “Look, I’ve got actually defined abs. I’m not too fit, am I? I’m still sexy to you? You’d wreck me and call me mommy with a smile, still?”

Ralph choked out a laugh and looked away from Winnie and back to the display for their route to dock at the flag ship of House Mirkil. They’d received his request to discuss the possibility of being hired as a Privateer with an eagerness that surprised him.

“I mean, my boobs are still nice and full. I didn’t loose any size to them. My band size got a bit smaller and they look bigger? Maybe? I guess?” Winnie whined, sounding concerned now. “Friggin’ Rio got me addicted to working out rather than letting my mind go to the bad place.

“Mmm. Do I need a boob job? Maybe?”

Winnie squeezed at her own boobs after letting the tank-top slide down.

The five foot two weapons officer Winnie, also named the Lady Armory, was a lightly brown skinned and highly attractive woman. She had brown hair that bordered on black and deep brown eyes.

Where she had felt sharp to be around when he met her, a sharp feeling that gave off a feeling of being angry. An angry five foot two and attractive woman that invited and dismissed attention in equal measure.

At some point that feeling had fled and there was now a feeling of being ‘settled’ about Winnie.

Settled and confident.

Dressed in a tanktop that did nothing to hide her larger than average bust, pinched waist, and a bit more curve than other women despite her workouts, she was indeed a picture of fitness and femininity in equal measure.

Other than the tank top she was dressed out in a skin-tight space suit that was bunched around her hips. It had an upper portion but it was currently hanging off from her rear.

She’d pulled it down to complain to Ralph about her chest.

As ever, perched on the top of her head was a pair of mechanical fox-ears. That were actually moving minutely as if they were real, which they most certainly were not.

Despite all the changes for the better that Winnie had gone through, she hadn’t been able to set aside those ears.

“You’re fine as you are,” Liseth remarked from where she sat in the co-pilot seat. Marionette and Delilah were currently going through the armory on a weapons check and Winnie had been ‘off-duty’ on the shift rotation. Which gave the Doc a chance to get some piloting experience with Ralph. “And if you want a different answer rather than what you’d likely deign as a ‘false platitude’, you’re short, fit, with breasts larger than average, and different than Delilah and Marionette.

“Ralph is a man who seems to thrive on variety, exploration, and experiencing new things. Be different, be variety, be the new thing. If you turn into a clone of Marionette, would he be as interested?”

“Oh shit that’s a super good point,” Winnie said, still prodding at her boobs. Then she sighed, pulled the space suit back into place over herself, and closed it up for the most part. SHe’d done it in such a way that it made a show of her cleavage and pulled her tanktop to the sides. “Yes! Haha, attention got!”

Winnie did a little shimmy as if it were a victory dance, turned, and then skipped away from him.

“I’m going to go fuss with the new targeting updates I got from the Confed! They were kind of interesting and handled a lot of things I had complained at them about years ago.

“I’ll be in my room! Come get it when you want it, Ralph! I’m always very willing!” Winnie called over her shoulder. The sound of her boots tapping and clicking across the deckplate fading as she went.

“Well,” Liseth remarked and turned partially in the co-pilot seat. She was also in a space-suit and it did a remarkable job of making her look just as lovely as Winnie. “If the choices are between alcoholic and ‘mildly obsessed’ then I’d say the latter is certainly the better choice.

“No, it isn’t unhealthy, no I don’t think she’s had a drink since she came on board, and yes, I do think she’s doing well with her therapy. I won’t tell you the details other than to confirm she’s consulted with me, I’ve checked in on the therapy she’s doing, and seen some of her patient work.

“She just… fixates on you in many ways. Good or ill, she sees you as a cross-road she didn’t get to choose at first, but has now embraced.”

Ralph grunted at that as he went through the final docking procedures. His prosthetic hand doing far better than he expected it to.

There wasn’t much in the way of sensation from it like a proper hand would, but there was some.

He could tell how much pressure he was putting on something. Could tell how much strength he was puting into it, and the general feedback and feel of whatever it was he was holding onto.

He’d been practicing with soda cans and trash whenever he had the opportunity. Things were progressing and he could see positive results.

“Fixates,” Ralph repeated as he got the clearance to move into a docking bay directly.

Well damn.

Here we go.

“Yes. Sexually and emotionally,” Liseth confirmed. “Ah, I… put in the plot that the computer recommended, but changed the approach to match what the Mirkil bay pilot sent. I assumed they’d have a better idea of what’d work?”

“That’s fine,” replied Ralph. He’d already seen the changes she’d made and found them to be perfectly fine. “If I… if I acted on Winnie… sexually… or emotionally… would it damage her?”

The question was somewhat surprising to him and came without him even thinking about it. He couldn’t deny that as Winnie sobered, pulled her weight, got in amazing shape, and just became a better person, she’d become a much more attractive person to him.

To the point that he couldn’t quite keep thoughts about her from creeping into his mind.

“No,” Liseth answered immediately with a laugh. “If anything it’d reaffirm her choices. Just don’t be confused about the whole of it. She acts like it’s just sex, that it’s a fascination, or maybe just a fixation. Just a fling.

“It isn’t. Don’t treat it like one. That’d harm her.”

“Not really thinking of that. I’ve got Rio,” Ralph got out quickly.

“Yes, I happened to see her contract when I was going through medical paperwork,” Liseth agreed. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a decent pilot. I just can’t seem to keep all the different movements required in mind.”

Contract.

I… yes.

I suppose she’s right.

I’ve got Marionette under contract and… yeah.

She’s my ships mistress for about three years. Pay equal to what I see fit and I have all rights to her in the bedroom.

She forced the contract on me. I even told her no.

But… no.

It’s more than just a contract.

This is more than just Marionette being here because she needed the safety.

It’s not an act.

“Privateer Turlan, Admiral Clause would be appreciative if you could come see him on the bridge,” came a voice over the com system. “We’ve drawn up an escort for you as well. You’re of course welcome to come armed if you so choose.”

Liseth turned partially in her seat to look athim.

“Are you going in alone?” she asked, quirking a delicate eyebrow at him.

She’s been upping her looks as of late, hasn’t she.

Wearing makeup, trimming that arched brow of hers, a haircut at the last port.

Even her clothes have changed

In fact, didn’t we see her doing ‘maintenance’ with Del, Rio, and Winnie?

“I was thinking I should. Why. Should I not?” Ralph asked, curious what her opinion was.

“Take Winnie,” answered Liseth without a moment of hesitation.

“She’s not even dressed to go,” argued Ralph as he got out of the captain’s chair. He adjusted his coat, sword at his side, and laser pistol in it’s holster.

“I’ll handle that. Just give me five minutes,” Liseth stated without any room for him to actually argue about it. She’d already stepped out of the co-pilot seat and was on her way at a swift walk toward Winnie’s room.

“I’d bet it’s because Winnie was Confed,” mused Xas quietly from behind him. “This might be an opportunity for her to approach part of what she was, from a safe space. At your side.”

“Oh,” Ralph said with a blink as he procesed what Xas said. It now made perfect sense to him. That he could easily see Liseth suggesting Winnie if only to make sure she could keep on her road to recovery. “Then I’ll just go stand by the exit ramp.”

Putting his left hand on top of his sword hilt, and finding it was actually rather comfortable despite his left hand no longer being flesh, Ralph left the cockpit area. Heading to the ramp and then waiting there.

As he stood near the airlock he casually tested his left hand’s grip, strength, and sensations against his sword.

I wonder if… I wonder if I could put sensors in a sword hilt.

If I put sensors in the sword-hilt, then had it link up with my hand, could I theoretically feel the sword as if it were an actual extension of me?

I wasn’t terrible at using a sword with my left hand, it just wasn’t as easy as it was with my right.

Lifting up his prosthetic left hand, Ralph opened and closed it slowly. Watching the segmented joints perfectly shifting, closing, and unclosing as he moved it around.

With a smirk, he spun the hand all the way around. Letting it do a full three-sixty before it settled back into it’s ‘home’ position. He found that when the hand was in line with the wrist it felt normal.

Correct, even.

The biggest downside he’d found so far with his false hand, was it simply couldn’t hold the same weight his original hand could have. The electronic stump and the prosthetic could carry up to forty to fifty pounds.

More than that and it’d be at risk of failing.

Which meant climbing and pull-ups were no longer something he’d ever be able to pursue.

“Uhm… I’m… I’m ready, I… I guess.”

Turning his head, Ralph found Winnie not coming to a stop beside him. She was dressed in a formal set of clothes that actually matched his own coat and dress pants.

It was something they’d picked up before they left Calesat in the case of a formal situation where a dress wasn’t the dress code. She fit it out extremely well and looked like a different person entirely.

“I think I missed out seeing you in a military uniform, Winnie,” Ralph offered with a grin. “Any chance you’ve got some photos of your dress uniform?”

Winnie blinked, then grinned at him evne as her cheeks turned a faint red.

“I’m sure we could work something out. So long as you let me wear my ears,” Winnie said, the last part added in a rush.

“I’m not against it. I’m surprised you’re not wearing them now, if I’m being honest,” Ralph offered.

“I… errr… can I?” Winnie asked in a quiet voice, her eyes watching him while they widened. “Right now?”

Ralph hesitated for a moment, critically thought about the situation as whole, then nodded his head.

“Go get them. Put them on. Then come back to me, Winnie. I expect a big smile when you come back. Real big. So big I can’t help but call you mommy, alright?” stated Ralph in a calm tone. One that hopefully Winnie would attach to and feel stable.

“O-okay. Okay! Okay. Thanks, Ralph,” Winnie said, nodding her head rapidly. She took off at a walk so fast it might as well have been a jog. She came to a sudden stop, her shoulders stiffened up, and she turned around and looked at him. The smile she gave him was free of anything other than actual warmth. Her mouth parted, she hesitated, then laughed and blew out a raspberry.

Only to start moving away from him again.

“That’s about right for her,” Ralph said with a nod of his head. “From flustered, to appreciative, to… Winnie.”

Ralph’s eyes slide down to Winnie’s hips and the pants taht fit her as well as they did.

Thankfully, she was back in minutes, though she didn’t say anything. Her mechanical ears twitched and swiveled atop her head as they disembarked.

No sooner than their boots hit the deck-plate than a squad of Confed soldiers in some very crisp and clean uniforms moved in toward them. They all had a sidearm, but nothing else.

Which left Ralph feeling a bit over-armed.

Winnie also had a sidearm and seemed to be equally armed and dressed to those who had come to greet them.

A man stepped forward and provided Ralph with a Turlan salute and let it fall before Ralph could even consider responding.

“Privateer Turlan, I’ll be conducting you and your companion,” said the man. “Though, may I ask for your name so as to inform the Admiral?”

“Winona Guthrie,” declared Winnie, her chin lifting up. “Formerly Lieutenant Commander Guthrie of the Terran Confederation Space Command, Chief Weapons Officer.”

There was a shift in the five people in front of Ralph and how they held themselves. All five pairs of eyes shifting toward Winnie. Then each of them moved back to Ralph after a few seconds.

“Also the Lady Armory, Ship’s Mistress to Privateer Turlan,” Winnie added, a wide smile curling her lips. She looked more proud of that title, rather than her previous rank. “Now… are we heading to his ward room? Conference room? Maybe the bridge? I wouldn’t mind taking a peak at seeing the current mathmatical plots?”

Ralph chuckled and looked away from Winnie and back to his escort.

“The ward room,” said one of the escorts.

Ralph gestured with his prosthetic hand toward them, the fingers splaying out correctly and in the appropriate gesture. One of the women in the group was unable to stare at his hand for a moment before the group turned and began leading him into the ship.

“Come on then, my Lieutenant Commander,” Ralph murmured and offered Winnie his arm.

“If you ever call me that again, I’ll… I don’t know. I’ll do something you don’t like though. It’s Lady Armory, Winnie, or mommy,” hissed Winnie, her eyes sharpening dangerously as she looked at him, yet took his arm anyways. “I gave them my rank because it’ll save time when they inevitably track down my record. Which they will. I was discharged dishonorably. Drunk on duty. Repeatedly.”

“Yet look at you now,” Ralph replied and that was the only answer that mattered to him. “Sober, hot, fit, clear minded, and a known name across the Blood of Calesat. Weren’t you telling me earlier you’ve got a number of letters from little Calesat kids?”

“I… yes,” Winnie said, blinking rapidly as if fighting tear. Her jaw flexed and she nodded her head once. “Yes.”

As she spoke, Ralph felt her fingers tighten into the inside of his elbow. He could certainly see why Liseth told him to take her with him.

Confrontation with the ghosts of her past would be needed if she ever wanted to truly make progress.

Quickly, without much in the way of hesitancy, the escort group led him and Winnie to a room that felt more like a study. It had book case, displays, plaques, honors, and medals along he walls. Along with a work desk, computer, coffee table to one side, and four chairs around it.

None of the escort officers came into the room with Ralph or Winnie as they entered. Behind them the door closed with a soft clunk.

The walk from the bay had at most been just under five minutes or so.

“Privateer Turlan, Lady Armory, a pleasure to meet you both,” stated a voice from an older man. He was standing near the work desk with his arms behind his back. He went straight to Ralph and Winnie, pulled his right hand out from behind his back, and offered it to Ralph. “I’m Admiral Hallie Clause of the Mirkil Space Command.”

“A pleasure, Admiral Clause,” Ralph responded and shook the mans hand.

He immediately turned and shook Winnie’s hand as well. There had been no hesitation in proferring his hand.

“Lady Armory, a pleasure as well. Your enlistment photo from the Confed doesn’t do you justice,” offered up the Admiral with a dip of his head. An admission that he’d briefed himself on their way over. “Given the results the Toll has been posting in that Blood war, I… assume you’ve managed to fight off your demons. Congratulations.”

Winnie’s nostrils flared as she shook the Admira’s hand and Ralph could tell that his statement was probably the last thing she’d been expecting to hear.

“I did,” she said finally after the handshake had ended and a few seconds had ticked by. “I… my captain… Ralph… Ralph got me… through it.”

The Admira l smiled at that and gestured to the coffee table.

“I have coffee and a light meal coming that we can eat and talk over,” the Admira said. “And because I can’t help myself, my wife tells me I’m akin to a sledgehammer to the brow, I’ll just tell you up front I want to hire you Privateer Turlan.

“This meeting is jus a matter of hammering out details, contract clauses, and anything else you might want to be part of it. We’d like to hire you on as a convoy participant. To bring the Turlan’s Toll into convoy groups and be part of a Task Force.

“Of course, I wouldn’t deign to expect you to listen to anyone in the convoy unless you saw fit to, so there’s no point in you worrying over it. I’ll give you written orders to choose your orders at will as long as you work within the best interests of the convoy or the Task Force itself.”

Ralph couldn’t help but be surprised by that immediate opt out for him on the chain of command. It wasn’t something he thought he’d be given, but a concession he genuinely thought he’d have to argue and fight them over.

“Well, that’ll… uh… well… that definitely speeds things up,” Ralph admitted with a wide smirk. “It really does sound like a question of coin and benefits then.

“Oh, also, I’m working on developing a habit. Anyone we work for in the capacity that you’re asking for, I’ve decided to make a request for citizenship for me and my people.

“I don’t think you’d mind much, but I could be wrong about that.”

Ralph and Winnie sat themselves down as he finished speaking.

The more citizenship paperwork he could get onto his people, the easier it’d be for them to break all their contracts later. Because right now, all three of his people were in various dilema’s regarding their legal status.

“I most certainly will not mind at all! As long as you allow us to commercialize the fact that you’re a citizen, that is,” the Admiral got out through laughter. He sat himself down in one of the chairs and brushed off his knees. “In fact I’d be willing to sign a bonus if you’re wholew crew would be willing to do a brief photo shoot for a poster.

“Mirkil has had a great deal of issues with the Blood as of late, and with the House politics heating up… we’d rather be prepared. The Ground Forces have their Cavalier, I’d be quite thankful if we had a Privateer to hitch on to.

“Now! I think we should start with prizes, since I don’t think for a moment you’ll be operating within the convoy like a Destroyer might.”

Ralph had been interested before, the Admiral had every scrap of his attention now.