Janessa and Junitha met in the commissary to talk. Janessa told Junitha what she had learned from Roweth and Suchin.
“So I guess in the end the gist of it is Kerrigan might be trying to take over the world and the aliens are very alien,” said Junitha in response.
“Its more than what we had yesterday,” said Janessa.
“I talked to that Evan kid,” said Junitha, “you know that sealed off section in the middle of the ship, it doesn’t draw any power from the ships engines. But there is power there. Whatever goes on in that part of the ship has its own power source independent of the rest of the ship.”
“So what next?”
“I have an idea but you might not like it.”
“What?”
“We should talk to Ardiniero? And we should do it together. If I can gauge his reaction to you I can determine if I should ask the questions or if you should.”
Janessa did not know what to say.
“I said you might not like it,” said Junitha.
“Hey how are you guys?” said Suchin as she came to sit down with them, “I thought I would try the soup today. But I got it without the meat. I can not stop picturing those vats you talked about.”
“How goes the decoding?” asked Junitha.
“The same as ever,” said Suchin.
Suchin ate her soup and they talked with her but did not give away what they were trying to find out. Then they mentioned Roweth and Suchin noticed him sitting alone.
“Why does he always do that?” asked Suchin.
“Do what now?” said Junitha.
“He always sits alone,” said Suchin, “Roweth seems like a perfectly decent man but he never talks to anyone. You can not be professional all the time. You need friends to balance you out. I think I am going to go talk to him. I will see if I can get him to open up a bit.”
“Are you sure about that?” said Junitha.
“Of course,” said Suchin, “we may all be from different nations but on this ship we are crewmates.”
Suchin got up and walked over to the table Roweth was at.
“I do not see this ending well,” said Junitha.
“What makes you say that?” asked Janessa.
“Because that man is way too lonely and she is way too pretty. Just watch. It might be funny.”
Roweth Sinclair was enjoying a nutrient packet when Suchin Markjon sat down across from him.
“Hello Roweth,” she said, “I am Suchin. We met briefly back during launch and you briefed my staff in the intelligence office a few days ago. I thought I should get to know you better. And I think you would like to get to know me better too. You keep to yourself too much Roweth. This is going to be a long mission so we are all going to need some form of companionship to help us keep our heads. I think you should take steps to get out there more and I would be more than willing to help you.”
Roweth just stared at Suchin with his mouth open for a minute. Then he remembered to finish chewing the food in his mouth. He swallowed and tried to come up with an appropriate response.
“Ms. Markjon, I appreciate your offer,” he began, “And I know there are no regulations against that sort of fraternization in the Solar Fleet, but there are in the Queen’s army and I just would not feel right engaging in those sorts of relations with you. That is not to say that you are not an attractive woman, you are, you are a very attractive woman. But I just do not think it would be appropriate.”
Suchin blinked a few times before saying, “What? Wait a moment, what did you think I was talking about?”
“It sounded like you were… that you wanted to… What did you think I was talking about?”
“I have to go,” said Suchin as she hastily walked away leaving Roweth confused and slightly strangely aroused.
Suchin sat down at the table with Janessa and Junitha again.
“I think I just made Roweth think I want to have sex with him,” said Suchin.
“Cool,” said Junitha, “Are you going to do it? I bet he doesn’t get much action so he might put some extra effort into it.”
Suchin looked to Janessa and said, “Is there something wrong with her?”
“Probably,” replied Janessa, “but I don’t think they have a word for it yet.”
Anyantha approached them and she looked worried. She went up to Janessa and said, “Mr. Kerrigan wants to see you.”
“Did he say what it was about?” asked Janessa.
“He told me to tell you that it was about rescheduling your interview,” said Anyantha.
“But that’s not what it’s really about?”
“I do not think it is. But I do not know what he really wants. Mr. Kerrigan does not usually ask me to lie, except occasionally when he is moving appointments around. But I like all of you and I thought maybe we were getting to be friends and I do not want to lie to you.”
Janessa asked Junitha, “Do you think this is about us?”
“Could be,” replied Junitha, “the only way to find out is to talk to the man.”
Janessa went with Anyantha to Kerrigan’s suite.
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