GALAXY AT WAR - Book 2 - Probing Anthera

CHAPTER TWELVE - September 2172 - Earth / Moon - 5 days to go

A/N :-  I KNOW I SAID THIS CHAPTER WOULD TAKE A WHILE BUT I'VE MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT THE 'UPLOAD A FILE' OPTION SO CHAPTERS WILL BE POSTED MUCH QUICKER NOW.

NOW FOR A CONTENT WARNING   -    TOWARDS THE END OF THIS CHAPTER A MURDER IS COMMITTED BUT IS MADE TO LOOK LIKE A R**E (HAD TO AVOID THE SENSORS WITH THAT WORD). IF YOU ARE IN ANY WAY SENSITIVE TO THE SCENE THEN PLEASE SCROLL PAST IT. THANK YOU FOR READING.

...Earth...

Roxanne stepped out of the lift and strode confidently towards her editor's office. She ignored the numerous looks of distaste coming from her colleagues, knowing they would all be 'kissing her ass' when this story was printed. She gave an icy stare to one girl who quickly turned away and pretended to be doing something.

She paused at her editor's door and looked at the lettering printed on the glass as she knocked.

HARVEY MILLER

EDITOR

"Come in," called Harvey.

Roxanne entered and sat opposite Harvey without being asked. He looked up and his face started to mirror all those she had just passed.

"Oh, it's you," said Harvey.

"Have I got a story for you," she replied, oblivious to the tone of his voice.

"Not interested, Roxanne. As of seven o'clock this morning you were fired."

"What!" Roxanne's carefree look was replaced with one of disbelief. "You can't... I have a story for you... what's wrong?"

"Let me put this as bluntly as possible, Roxanne. I don't like you. I never have. The only reason you were still employed is because your father paid World News a lot of money every month to keep you here. He was two weeks late sending the last payment, so I phoned him. He said you're not his daughter any more then put the phone down on me."

Roxanne's anger started to waver. "Daddy said that?"

"Yes, so out you go. You'll find your possessions behind the desk at reception."

"But this story. It's brilliant."

"Let me guess. It's about General Bolgon and has something to do with drink."

Roxanne looked shocked. Harvey had never spoken to her like this before. As far as she knew he hadn't spoken to anyone like this before.

"No. It... it's about him having sex with someone young enough to be his daughter after getting her drunken enough for him to take advantage of her."

"Still not interested. To be honest, I'll be glad to be rid of you. Now go."

"But."

"Go!" Harvey had stood up with his arm fully extended, pointing to the door.

Roxanne managed to hold in her tears. Only minutes ago, she was on top of the world and hoping to finally bring the general down. Now this. She stood and thought of the recent strip search and the ordeal in her own quarters back on the moon. She had gone through all that for nothing. It did the trick. The need to cry was replaced by anger.

"Fine!" she yelled back at him. Roxanne strutted towards his door and roughly pulled it open. It was a wonder the glass didn't shatter as it hit the copier positioned next to it. Roxanne could feel every eye upon her and, looking at the floor, she marched to the lift.

"Good riddance," said one male reporter.

"Finally," said another.

"Fuck the lot of you!" yelled Roxanne, her face now bright red, not just from the emotion she felt, but also from the extreme embarrassment that she had been dismissed. She stabbed the lift button one final time and waited, in torture, as they all started to direct hurtful comments at her.