The Three of Us

Part 7 - The Occupant

Jonathan strode to the Brig. It was even before breakfast. He had to get this out of the way, as soon as possible. Private Hamboyan was guarding the Brig. "Good morning, Eddie," he said.

"Good morning, sir."

"Has she said anything?"

"No, sir."

"Okay, let me in," Jonathan said.

"Yes, sir. I'll be right outside."

"Thank you, Private."

Jonathan walked into the Brig's vestibule. Sandra was in custody, behind a locked door. He pressed a button in order to be able to speak with her. "Well?" was all he asked.

"Well what?" she answered testily.

"Got any idea why you're in here?"

"I had a fight with Nyqvist."

"Right," he said, "anything else you wanna tell me?"

"No. I have a headache."

"Hunger, eh?" he asked.

"You planning on starving me?"

"No, just making conversation. Really, Sloane, do you have to make everything so goddamned difficult?"

"Captain, I shouldn't be in the Brig. You should be pinning a damned medal on me."

"Say what?"

"You heard me."

"And I have no idea what you mean," he said. "Care to enlighten me?"

"Look, I'll admit that last night was out of hand. But for the most part, things have been cool, right?"

"Not really, but for the moment I'll accept your premise."

She folded her arms. "I don't have to say anything else, yanno. But you need me."

"Need?"

"Yep. Look, you ever wonder why those MACOs don't riot all the time?"

"They don't because they're good people."

"In part, that's the reason. I'll allow that," she said haughtily. "But it's something else, too."

"Like what?"

"I provide a valuable service, Captain. Like I said, you need me."

He thought for a moment. "What?"

"Yep. See, I engage them for a few hours and they leave with a smile on their face and then you're set for, I dunno, at least a good few days, maybe a week. I rotate among them – also some regular Joe crewmen, too – and they're nice, docile puppies."

He realized his jaw was hanging open. "Christ," he finally asked, "how long has this been going on?"

"Almost since we were kicked back in time," she said, a little smugly. "Frankly, you could use my services, too. So come on in here."

"I don't think so."

"Why not? You've gotta have more stress here than anyone else. I know how to make that all go away, yanno. And I don't ask for a lot in return."

"You're being paid for it?"

"You honestly think I'd do this for free? Sheesh," she tossed her hair, "but it's not exactly money, as that's kinda useless here. It's more privileges, or things I like, you know, like a better shift, or I get to cut in front of the chow line. You gotta realize; most of this crew is pretty plug ugly. I don't just take it for the team. So of course I get a little ... compensation."