GALATIC MARSHAL
by Hilltopper

CHAPTER 8

Mary got up and tried to pull me to my feet but, I was so drunk, I fell into a table and lamp with a loud crash. Sam came running in.

“Matt, did John attack you?”

“No, he is just drunk on his butt. Why don’t you go get us some food in town and I will sober him up. Don’t worry, I can handle him.”

“OK, be back in a few.”

I watched Sam leave although he was a bit bleary. I turned to Matt.

“You are Mary, aren’t you?”

“Yes”

“I must be dreaming or already dead.”

She laughed.

“Into the shower; then talk.”

She stripped me and pushed me into the shower stall. She then turned on the cold water.

“Hey!”

“Shut up and stand there. I have gone to a lot of trouble to be here to help you. Now, cooperate or it’s back on the floor.”

“You wouldn’t have it so easy if I was sober.”

“How quickly we forget. OK, I’m coming in too.”

She removed her clothes and turned on the hot water. My eyes bugged out!

“You’re still a woman!”

“What did you expect? It’s bad enough that I look like a man. You can’t believe how hard this is.”

“Oh, I think I can. The real question is why?”

She stepped into the shower and kissed me.

“When I found out what had happened to you, it made coming her like this tolerable. I could not let you fall off the deep end. It is my fault what has happened to you and I think I love you.”

“Like this?”

“OK, I love Jonnie but I know that is who you really are.”

We hugged and then washed each other. After drying off and dressing, I looked at Mary. She was about to lose it so I took her into my arms.

“I know how hard this is for you. I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed you and Fledora until now.”

We heard the hovercraft outside and so we separated.

“I don’t think Sam ought to see this. He might get the wrong idea.”

Mary laughed. Sam walked in with a sack of hamburgers and lots of coffee.

“Sam, you know I hate coffee.”

“That’s all you get today, buddy.”

“All right, all right, I know I’m a mess.”

“Well, at least you’re clean now.”

We dove into the hamburgers. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. All of my meals lately had been of the liquid variety. After we finished, Matt turned to Sam.

“I’m going to stay here a couple of days to whip John back into shape. Why don’t you go on back up and we will join you when he is ready.”

“That sounds good. Oh and John, here is something you lost.”

Sam flipped me my marshal’s badge.

“Good luck. I’ll see both of you in a few days.”

Sam left and we took things to the couch.

“OK, Mary, something really bad must have happened for the council to allow you to be here like this. Give!”

“Yes, we had a shoot out with Karen’s bunch when she tried to load her cargo onto a Broadskye military ship. We stopped the cargo from leaving but four of my team were killed. Karen and another woman left on the ship.”

“Wow, I guess Karen got desperate.”

“That’s not all. We believe there is a plot to take over Fledora and that Karen is a big part of it.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. By the way, what is the deal between you and Karen?”

“Thirty five years ago, Karen’s mother was dismissed from the council. She was chairwoman at the time. Since my mother and Carol Givens were on the council, Karen blames them for her dismissal.”

“Why was Karen’s mother forced to leave the council?”

“A male military pilot crashed landed on Fledora. He was, of course, isolated from the population while he healed. Karen’s mother oversaw his care and became romantically involved with him. Apparently, she became pregnant. Because of that, she lost everything.”

“I can see why she hates you then.”

“Yeah, my mother and Carol were only following the rules but Karen doesn’t see it that way. Now, the council has issued a warrant for Karen’s arrest and they want you and I to go get her.”

“I suppose she is on Broadskye.”

“That’s what we think.”

“Do you have any idea how hard it’s going to be for you to pass as a man on that planet?”

“Yes, and it is scaring me to death.”

“Well, I guess it’s my turn to do the training. Look how you are sitting.”

She looked down puzzled.

“Spread your legs and scratch.”

“What!”

“This will get you in the right mood. Just do it.”

“This is silly. What am I scratching?”

“Balls itch.”

“Yeah well, I don’t have any and, come to think of it, I didn’t notice any on you either when we were in the shower.”

I just ignored her comment.

“These are just some of the things you need to watch out for in order to not raise any suspicions.”

“OK, OK, I get it, teacher. Before we get into my intensive training, I have a question that has been bothering me. When Karen got onto that ship, there was another woman with her. I haven’t said anything to anyone but she looked a lot like Sandra to me.”

“OK, you are right. I just couldn’t do it. Linda and you are the first friends I have ever had. Besides, that bunch she killed weren’t worth the bullets she used on them.”

“I should be shocked but I am not. You are a good person. I haven’t met Linda but I know you really like her. Should I be jealous?”

“No, she is like a best friend and sister rolled into one. Besides, she likes men.”

“Uh, have you looked at yourself lately?”

“You know what I mean. She only knew Gina. I hope she is staying out of trouble.”

“If she is with Karen, I don’t know.”

We spent the rest of the day working on Mary’s male persona. She has the body for it but, otherwise, she is definitely a woman.

“OK, enough for today. I’m beat.”

“Sure, Mary, me too. I’ll flip you for the bed.”

“I’ve already flipped you once today.”

With that, she shed her clothes and jumped into the bed. I took off mine as well and joined her.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going to bed. It is my bed.”

She looked at me slyly.

“I thought it wasn’t considered right for two men to share a bed.”

“Where do you see two men?”

She laughed and we cuddled together. I don’t know if it was the drinking binge I had been on or my happiness at seeing Mary again but, whatever the reason, I was horny. Maybe she was just curious but, whatever the reason, she let me. I went to sleep with the most wonderful feeling I ever had.

I awoke to noises coming from the kitchen. I put on a robe and walked into it. Mary was standing naked with her hands on her hips. She looked over at me.

“You have absolutely nothing here to eat.”

“Uh, Mary, you can’t go around naked here. This is not Fledora.”

“Who’s to see? OK, I know, I have to think male. Though, I don’t believe you saw me as male last night.”

I blushed a bright red.

“I’m sorry about that. I don’t now what came over me.”

She smiled.

“Me either. The council will be furious.”

“Well, what they don’t know won’t hurt us. Besides, this is a unique situation they have put us in.”

I walked up to her and closed my arms around her. We kissed passionately.

“Whew, Jonnie, this is getting to be a habit.”

“I hope so. Get dressed; we are going into town to eat. You need to get used to people especially men. Just let me do the talking and watch how everyone acts.”

We dressed casually and found a decent looking restaurant. After we were seated, Mary turned to me.

“I need to pee.”

“OK, be sure to use the men’s room.”

“Please go with me.”

“Men don’t go together like women do. You must go alone.”

She sighed and left. A few minutes later, she came back looking quite peaked.

“That was the most disgusting thing I have ever done!”

“Get used to it. Men don’t pay any attention.”

“Gross!”

We ordered and ate mostly in silence. Upon finishing, we headed back to the cabin.

“Jonnie, I don’t think I can do this.”

“Sure you can. You just have to put on a male mask. Keep the real you locked inside.”

“Is that what you have done all your life?”

This stunned me. Have I done that? I didn’t think so. This mess keeps getting worse.

“Let’s just work on you, OK?”

Arriving back at the cabin, we worked on her male façade. After several hours, I decided enough was enough. She at least looked male and was very strong. That would just have to be enough.

“OK, I’m calling Sam and telling him we are coming back. I feel better about things. At least we will be together on this.”

“Yes, I guess we might as well.”

We packed things up and drove to Atlanta. I turned in the car and we took the shuttle up to headquarters. We stayed in my apartment that night. I won’t say any more about that. The next morning, we set off to Sam’s office.

“You know, we are going to have to start using John and Matt for names. Things are going to get serious when we reach Broadskye.”

“I know. It just does not seem right calling you Matt.”

We reached Sam’s office and knocked.

“Come on in.”

“Do you always say that?”

Sam laughed.

“Only when I know it’s you. Are you back to your old self?”

“As best I can be.”

“Didn’t mean to ignore you, Matt. John and I just have a history. OK, down to business. I have cleared your visit to Broadskye with the authorities there. They know you are after a fugitive and will cooperate. Do you have any information as to where she might be?”

Matt jumped in here.

“The council of Fledora told me she went there on a military ship. That should be easy to trace. The whole thing smells though.”

“Yeah, I agree. You will be more or less on your own there, so be careful.”

We thanked Sam and left to go back to my apartment.

“When do you want to leave, Matt?”

“We might as well get going right away. Delay will only make it harder to find Karen.”

“I agree. Let’s get our things.”

We left a short time later on the Fledoran shuttle. We went into medical where the pods were located.

“Well, at least this time when I wake up, I’ll be the same. I hope.”

“Yes, I can now see your fear of them.”

We entered our pods and, like always, the next thing we knew, we were at Broadskye. We obtained clearance to land at their main spaceport. Upon deplaning, we were met by a rather jovial chubby man.

“It’s so wonderful to have you here. We don’t get marshals very often. I’m Josh Randall.”

I shook his hand.

“I’m John Harper and this is Matt Browning.”

“Wow, the great Marshal Harper!”

“Uh, just John and Matt will be fine.”

“Sure, sure, come on. I’ll take you to my office.”

He drove us in a rather primitive police cruiser. Once in his office, he pulled out a sheet of paper.

“OK, you are here to serve a warrant on a Karen Littleton. I’ve checked and we have nothing on that name. You gave us information about a ship leaving with her. The only ship that came in at the time landed at a small military base on our moon.”

“How do we get there?”

“That’s just it. You don’t.”

“Pardon me?”

“You see, the moon is really not a part of our government. We use it as a penal colony for habitual criminals and ones that commit a severe crime. Once convicted, we simply deposit them on the moon. The inmates there have established their own society, basically. It is rather primitive.”

“You mean, there are no guards?”

“What for? There is no place for them to go. We just drop them there and they are on there own.”

“What about that military base?”

“I don’t know much about it. It must be pretty top secret. There is certainly no going there.”

“Hmmm! There must be a way for us to go to that moon.”

“The only way would be posing as prisoners. A robotic shuttle drops them at a specific point and leaves.”

“Can’t we go through your military?”

“We asked. According to them, that base does not exist.”

“That sounds like the military. OK, if we get Karen, how do we get off the moon?”

“Well, that’s never been done to my knowledge. We’ll work something out. I’ll supply you with a transceiver so you can contact us. But keep in mind that it is a very rough and primitive place; not unlike the old west on Earth. Once there, you are on your own. Go get something to eat. Our cafeteria is just down the hall. I’ll get things arranged.”

We shook hands and went out.

“I sure am tired of everyone saying ‘you are on your own’.”

“Jonnie, this scares me to death.”

“Yeah, me too. It looks like a suicide mission at first glance but we will make it. I have confidence in you.”

“I don’t see any other way to do it so I guess we just make the best of things.”

We finished eating in silence and headed back to Josh’s office.

“OK, we’re all set. I’m giving you both a transceiver. Hide it well. The clothes you have on will be fine. You better let me keep your badges and IDs. There is no point in bringing anything with you. It would just get taken. So, let’s go.”

He led us onto the roof where an odd looking ship awaited. A door opened to a compartment that allowed us to stand in it but nothing else.

“Good luck! If you get into serious trouble, call us. It may take some time to arrange extraction, however.”

“Thanks for everything.”

He gave us a sad smile and closed the hatch. The ship lifted off with a jerk. The ride took several very uncomfortable hours. We just held each other in silence as the noise was deafening. The ship landed with a thud and the door popped open. Mary and I stepped out and walked a ways from the ship. It promptly left with a rush.

“Well Mary, I guess this is it. Remember you are Matt Browning. I can’t be John Harper so how about I be Rusty Allen?”

“Sounds OK.”

We hugged and kissed. Finally, we broke apart.

“Remember, man up.”

Mary, excuse me, Matt laughed.

“That’s easy for you to say.”

A couple of miles in the distance, we could see a town of some sort. We walked towards it and, as we entered, I got a shock.

“I swear we are walking into old Deadwood.”

“What’s that?”

“Believe me, you don’t want to know.”

There were a few people about but they seemed to be avoiding us; maybe because we were new. I spotted a rather large saloon and we headed there. This was like a place out of the old west. As we walked in, I heard someone say, “Well, look what the cat dragged in.” God, not again! Next thing I knew, the fight was on. I held my own for a minute but found myself flat on my back soon after. I heard a familiar voice say, “Back off!” Then a hand reached out. Looking up, I could not help myself. Smiling real big, I said, “Hi Linda.”