GALACTIC MARSHAL
BY Hilltopper

CHAPTER 5

When I saw those miners beating up on poor Gina, my past flashed before my eyes. I was not going to let thugs kill another person I cared about. Rising from my seat, I picked up a knife that was lying on the table. When I reached Thelma, she had her big foot poised over Gina’s neck. I knew that as soon as she stomped down, Gina would be dead.

Therefore, I plunged the knife into Thelma’s back piercing her heart. She froze and then toppled to the floor. The other two miners looked at me in shock. By this time, Karen arrived with her bouncers. Knowing my past, Karen was not surprised at what I had done.

“Thank you, Linda, for saving Gina’s bacon. I should have been watching her more closely.”

Turning to her bouncers, she said,

“Take this trash out of here.”

I bent down to Gina. She was unconscious but did not appear to be bleeding much and she seemed to be breathing OK. I heard Karen barking more orders.

“Molly, go find the doctor and tell her it’s an emergency. We are closed as of right now. All of you patrons that are still here, your meals and drinks are on the house. Linda, help me move Gina into my room.”

I wasn’t as strong as Karen, so I grabbed Gina’s feet. She is definitely heavier than she looks. We got her up the stairs and into Karen’s room. We laid her gently onto the bed. I looked over to Karen and noticed she was crying.

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“Mary, wakeup! We have a problem.”

“Huh”

“Mary, Marshal Harper’s been hurt.”

“What!”

That woke me up in a hurry.

“What happened?”

“We don’t know for sure. Apparently, she got into a fight with some miners. The transceiver started cutting out, so we don’t know the total outcome. Her vital signs are still OK, though.”

“Good! Let me get dressed and I’ll be right there.”

Damn! I warned her about those miners. What was she thinking? I dressed as quickly as possible and went into the command center.

“OK, any more news?”

“Well, the transceiver is sending again but we can’t transmit to her. The last we heard, she was put on a bed and a doctor was being sent for.”

“Prepare things to go in. We have got to get her out.”

“Now wait! She may be OK. We don’t want to blow her cover unnecessarily.”

“Unnecessarily! She might be dying!”

“They have sent for a doctor. Let’s wait and see what she says.”

“OK, but I want a team ready to go.”

“Right”

That doctor better hurry up. I’m not waiting much longer.

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When the doctor arrived, we ushered her into Karen’s room. Molly had told her what had happened so she knew what to look for. She spent the most time examining Gina’s head with some kind of electronic gadget. Finally, she turned to us.

“Well, she’s pretty lucky. She has some bruised ribs and contusions about the face but they will heal fine. The biggest problem is a severe concussion. There is no bleeding or swelling of the brain. It is just in a state of shock. When she wakes up, she will probably be disoriented and, maybe, have some amnesia. Keep her as quiet as possible. I will look back in the morning. Someone should stay with her at all times.”

“Thank you, doc.” said Karen. “We will look after her.”

With that, the doctor left.

“Karen, you have a business to close up. I will stay here with Gina tonight.”

“Thank you, Linda. I will be downstairs. Call me immediately if there is any change.”

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“Well, I guess you were right. We will hold off for now. Tell the team to stand down.”

“Will do, Mary.”

Shit, I’m calling Carol Givens. She’s the one who got Jonnie in this fix. It only took a minute to get the council chairwoman on the line.

“What’s the emergency, Mary?”

“Marshal Harper was hurt in a fight and is unconscious with a severe concussion.”

“Is she being treated?”

“Yes”

“Good! Look, you know why we need her as well as I do. Just monitor the situation but don’t pull her out unless it is absolutely necessary. Understood!”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Fine! Keep me informed.”

That’s just great. We have taken an elite honest marshal and practically broken him. If I had known the baggage he carried, I would have refused this assignment. I thought it was funny to take a strong macho man and turn him into a she. The council knew about his past. That’s why they chose him. If anything happens to Jonnie, I will never forgive myself. I am as much to blame for this as the council. I was smug and enjoyed training him to be a woman. Now, it only hurts. God, could it be I am having feelings for Jonnie? No, she is really a man. I can’t have feelings for a man. This really sucks! I guess all I can do now is wait until morning and hope she is OK.

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I opened my eyes to a strange room. My head was pounding. I tried to rise up but it felt like my brain was exploding.

“Ow!”

“Oh, Gina, you’re awake finally.”

Gina? For some reason that sounds wrong but it must be right.

“Where am I?”

“You’re in my room?”

“Uh, what happened and who are you?”

“You were attacked last night while waiting a table. The doctor said you would be a little confused when you woke up. I am Karen, your boss. Your friend Linda was here all night with you. She left to get some sleep.”

“Attacked?”

Just then another woman walked into the room.

“Aw, you’re awake. I’m Dr. Morris. Let’s check you out.”

She moved some gadget about my head and smiled.

“This is really good. You are recovering nicely. You have a bit of a concussion. Just stay in bed the rest of the day. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The doc left and Karen came back to my bedside.

“I am so sorry this happened. I know you have had a rough time and certainly did not need this.”

“Things are a little fuzzy. I don’t remember much about the attack.”

“That’s Ok, you just need to rest. Get some sleep and I’ll be back shortly.”

She touched my face gently and left. This is weird. I don’t remember much of anything. She must care for me. I think I’ll follow her advice and sleep some. I awoke some time later to some one holding my hand.

“Sorry, I passed out.”

“That’s fine. It is what you need now. How do you feel?”

“Much better. My headache is almost gone. Thanks for taking care of me.”

“It was my pleasure.”

She then placed her hand tenderly on my right breast and fingered my nipple.

“Hmmm, that feels nice.”

“Just relax and I will make every thing better.”

She put her other hand on my left breast and softly kissed my lips.

“Do you remember me now?”

“Yes and I think working in the dining room.”

“Good! Don’t worry about a thing. It will all come back. Concentrate on getting better now.”

She moved her hand down my stomach. I was feeling really strange but wonderful at the same time. As her hand reached my vaginal opening, there was a knock at the door. She seemed a bit miffed but called out. In walked a woman that I immediately knew as Linda.

“Oh, Gina, I was so worried. How do you feel?”

“Much, much better.”

Karen stood up and hugged Linda.

“Thanks again for saving Gina’s life. I owe you big time.”

This was news to me. Just what did happen last night?

“Well, I better get down stairs and get ready to open. Take good care of our Gina.”

“Don’t worry.”

With that, Karen smiled at me, stroked my cheek, and left.

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“Mary, that transceiver has gone out again but we heard enough to know Jonnie is fine.”

“Darn that thing. This is getting frustrating. At least Jonnie is OK.”

“We think we know how to fix it. Someone needs to inject a new antenna into it. One other thing, we have gotten a report that one of those miners involved in the altercation was killed.”

“What! Now how did that happen? Jonnie was on the floor being kicked. Some one else must have interceded. Hmmmm! OK, this is just what I need. It gives me the perfect reason to check on things in person and fix that transceiver. I’m going in!”

“If we go in, not only will the council be mad but it is bound to cause Jonnie problems.”

“No, I am going in alone. Investigating a murder will allow me to talk to Jonnie. It will work!”

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“I didn’t know you and Karen were that close.” said Linda.

“Neither did I. What really happened last night?”

“Well, I’m not sure what started it.”

“Uh, I think it was me overreacting. Thelma was feeling me up and I lost it.”

“OK, that explains it. You hit Thelma and then she and her cronies were all over you. I have to make a confession here. I am not from this planet. A while back, some stinking marshals arrested and then killed my husband. I made them pay and then escaped to the planet Broadskye. That is where the people here migrated from many years ago. Anyway, Karen has connections there and she smuggled me here. When I saw Thelma trying to kill you, it flew all over me. I am afraid I might have overreacted too.”

“Oh no, what did you do?”

“She was ready to stomp on your neck. I stabbed her in the back.”

“So, she’s dead?”

“Yes, I feel close to you. I was not going to let it happen again.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry I put you in that position.”

“It’s over.”

Karen stuck her head in at that moment.

“Maybe not, that snoopy Detective Brown is down stairs. She is going to interview Gina about the fight. You can not be here. Slip out the back way.”

“Right, see you later, Gina.”

Linda left and Karen moved over to me.

“Did she tell you what she did?”

“Yes”

“OK, listen, as far as you know, no one was hurt but you. Just tell Brown that you can’t remember anything about the fight.”

“That’s a good idea. I got Linda into this and I am not going to let her take a fall because of me.”

“Good girl! Detective Brown and I do not get along. We have a history and she won’t leave me alone.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Karen opened it and Mary walked in. As soon as I saw her, everything came flooding back. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, Linda is Sandra! Shit.

“Karen, I need to talk to Gina about last night; alone.”

“Yeah, OK, I’ll be down stairs.”

Karen left and Mary ran to me.

“Oh, Jonnie, I am so sorry.”

“Hey, it’s OK, all part of the job, I think. I have to admit though that this was not what I was expecting.”

“You’re stupid transceiver is on the blink so we don’t know exactly what happened. We got a report that one of the miners was killed.”

I filled Mary in leaving out Linda’s part or should I say Sandra.

“I don’t know anything about what happened after I passed out.”

“You could have been killed. I should have pulled you out!”

“No, you did the right thing. We can’t afford to blow my cover even if we don’t like it. Speaking of that transceiver, how come the doctor did not notice it.”

“I am sure she did. She is working with us but we have no contact with her. Anyway, I think I can fix that transceiver. Hold Still!”

Mary did something behind my ear.

“OK, try it.”

“No need. They heard you and just acknowledged such in my ear.”

“All right, I am going but you be careful. This may not be over. Those miners stick together.”

“Don’t worry, we still have an assignment to finish.”

Mary kissed me on the cheek and left. I lie back thinking. What am I going to do now? That statement about an assignment to finish hurt. I don’t know what to do about Linda. She saved my life twice and has been a real good friend when I needed one badly. How do I get myself in these predicaments? A few minutes later, Linda came back.

“Hey Gina, that detective being here really bothers me. What did she want?”

“She just wanted to know about the fight. I told her I did not remember anything. . I don’t think she knows anything about your part in it.”

“That makes me feel better. OK, I’m going to think things over tonight. Hopefully, the doctor will release you tomorrow. Maybe, we can take another walk and talk things over.”

“Sounds good to me. I am a bit tired now.”

“Just rest, I will see you in the morning.”

What a mess! A little later, I heard Mary in my ear.

“Jonnie, who was that you were talking to earlier?”

“It was just one of the other waitresses. She didn’t have anything much to do with last night.”

“OK, let me know if you need anything.”

God, I hated lying to Mary. This is getting more complicated by the minute. I lay back on my pillow. Karen’s actions have really thrown me for a loop. She sure isn’t acting like a boss and what I felt was new to me. I never dated during school and I have been too busy since to even think about my sexuality. This has stirred things that would have been better left alone. My brain gradually shut down and I dropped into a deep sleep. I awoke with some one poking me.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to wake you. Well, actually, I did.”

It was the doctor again.

“How’s your head?”

“It feels fine. My headache seems to be gone.”

“That’s good. You shouldn’t have any more trouble except for some sore ribs, so you can go home as far as I’m concerned.”

She left and I saw Karen looking kind of sad.

“I want to thank you for all you did for me. I guess I’m a bust as a waitress.”

She laughed.

“No, you were doing fine. Take all the time off you need. You’re job will be waiting for you.”

She turned, hesitated a few seconds, and then headed out the door. Oh, boy, this is a problem. I decided to go on back to the rooming house so I got dressed in some clothes somebody had left for me. Once at the house, I noticed breakfast being served. This reminded my stomach that I was very hungry. I walked into the dining room and Linda looked up.

“Hey, the wounded has arisen!”

God she is a happy sounding person even with all her troubles. It makes me feel humble.

“Yeah, I guess I have you to thank for the clothes.”

“I figured you’d want out as soon as possible.”

I sat and ate like I hadn’t eaten in a week. After I finished, Linda and I got up together. She motioned me outside. We walked in silence until we reached the edge of town.

“Gina, I’ve thought a lot about the situation. That detective is bound to find out what I did and my past will not be far behind. Karen has agreed to get me off Fledora and I want you to go with me. You’re life is not worth anything with those miners still holding a grudge.”

“Well, I don’t know. How can Karen get us out of here?”

“She has an agreement with the military on Broadskye. She supplies them with Thulium and they look the other way.”

“Thulium? Why do they want that?”

“They are building some kind of superconducting laser and must have it. Karen’s mine is their only source. Come on, it’s over this hill.”

This was a new wrinkle. I wonder if Mary knows about this. Well, of course, she does now.

“I would think that this Broadskye place would be very unhappy about dealing with Fledorans considering what happened years ago,”

“Oh, they are. Karen just has them over a barrel with the Thulium thing. Anyway, she can get us out of here tonight on one of her cargo transports. Please go too!”

“I don’t know. My life keeps turning upside down.”

“Hey, I’m sorry. Oh, here we are.”

I looked up and noticed an almost concealed mine entrance. Linda opened a door, walked in, and turned on some lights. I followed behind her.

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Unknown to Linda and Gina, two vengeful miners had followed them to the mine.

“This is perfect. Go over to that storage building and get some explosives. We are going to seal them up inside.”

“Karen won’t like this.”

“Screw Karen, just do it. We owe this to Thelma.”

The explosives were planted, the button was pushed, and the mine entrance was obliterated.