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King Of The Rim Chapter 2-Courtmartial By Stanman63 Edited By Nora Adrienne, JennaFl for Proofreading with Special Thanks to Sephrena Lynn Miller for Guidance and ChrisW. for the Illustration! And For Editorial Help Synopsis:Commander John Carter, Executive Officer of the Patrol Cruiser Aztec visits his favorite haunt once again while on shore leave after another successful tour of the Rim. In the Dive, he suffers the company of fellow crew member Bronson who has used his connections within the Navy to keep from being court martialed for previous transgressions. A beautiful woman enters the Dive, catching Bronson's lustful attention. Now John Carter faces possible discipline for defending a Trans from an attack by three crewmen: Bronson, and his cronies Jones and Walsh Will Carter be dishonorably discharged? Will he lose his commission and be sent to a Penal Colony? Or will he be exonerated, leading to an encounter that is the beginning of a change for the galaxy?. |
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John grabbed Jane by the shoulders. "Damn it all to hell! My goose is cooked. The captain has no choice but to send me to the penal planet!"
Jane looked him in the eye, ready to endure his wrath. "If I had known that Jones and Walsh were involved, I'd have never involved you. The only reason that they know is that they saw me at the clinic. Because of me, that clinic is now an Imperial Clinic and all of the staff members are slaves." 'He has every right to take out his anger on me, but why do I feel safe, even now?'
John Carter was speechless for a few moments as he contemplated the full implications of what she just said. "Those two will tell Bronson and then they'll tell the Captain!" He sighed heavily, resigned to the worst possible outcome.
"I wish that things had worked out better for my knight." 'He looks so lost now, all because of me. Was it worth his court martial for me to be defended? His black wavy hair and piercing blue eyes make John an Adonis. He may be small and lean, but his whipcord physique makes me drool.'
Then he slumped into a nearby bench against a retaining wall. "My career is over now. I apologize for yelling at you. I was defending your honor as any knight should." 'And I would do it again to protect her too.'
Going over to John Carter, she gently kissed his cheek and then sat down by him on the bench. "The knights of old slayed dragons? Are you really a knight?"
His sense of humor returned when she called him her knight. He remembered the oath he swore as a knight. "On my world, I am actually a knighted prince. We are very much like the Knights of Camelot." He grinned at her to let her know that he was not angry at her. 'Why do I feel so comfortable around her? Could she be the one for me?'
Beginning to feel at ease in his presence, she teased, "Oh, so I am talking to royalty?" Her eyes glistened with laughter. 'Here, all of this time, I never believed that I could ever find true love. Yet, in my heart of hearts, I yearn for him. Is he the one for me?'
John reached into his pocket for a napkin, then gently wiped the tears from Jane's eyes. John sensed a sweet soul longing for acceptance. "My Home Trillannii is a Free Port World. We believe all are equal. Unfortunately, some have need of our help because of the Empire. Which is why we Trillannii Knights help those in need."
Jane looked at her wrist chronometer. "Too bad I was not born there; I have no doubt that I'd have been free to be me. But it is time for me to return to my ship. However, do not worry about your career. I believe that you won't go to the Penal Planet." 'Come to think of it, he just might be the Prince of Trillannii that we have been looking for.'
Standing up, John helped Jane to her feet. "Why do you say that?" He gently kissed the back of her hand, treating her like a Lady of the Court. "Is there any hope for me?"
Jane smiled in approval of his Court manners. "I am sure that somebody will buy out your contract with the Navy. That is the only way out for you." 'To be specific, the Captain will if you are the Prince that I believe that you are. If not, we will still be of service to another Trillannii Knight.'
"But then I will be the slave of the purchaser. Not much of a hope, but at least there is some hope for me."
"Johnny, whoever buys your contract can free you. My Captain is looking for an Executive Officer. Hopefully he can buy you, and free you." 'If he won't, I will! I have the money thanks to cashing in my scholarships.'
They shared a long, lingering kiss and embrace that inflamed both their hearts with longing for the other. Reluctantly Jane turned away to board her ship as John stared up at her retreating form.
The Rim Queen, John noted, had a long oval body with an attached delta wing that housed the fuel and Star Drive nacelles. Its stern held the reaction drive and twin "V" rudders that guided it during atmospheric flight. John couldn't help but wonder how its weapons and armor compared to the Aztec.
Jane swiped her hand over the security scanner to open the plasteel door and headed down to Engineering to see her best friend. Even though they were both the same age, Sparky always seemed to have a way of quelling Jane's fears and doubts. If not for her friendship, Jane would have given up after transferring to the Queen.
Jane hugged the Chief Engineer. "Sparky, I may have met my True Love, but he's in trouble for defending me from attack by men of the Imperial Navy."
"All because o' Imperial Policy. Get ya' fanny to tha' Cap'n. He'll do what he can for tha' man."
Then a gray haired legless man in a hover chair spoke, "No need to Jane, I heard you just now, and I'll do what I can for him. But next time, dress less sexy when you go ashore please."
Jane moved away from Sparky's station to give the Captain a hug. "Thanks Daddy." 'He earned my love when he chose to accept me as his daughter.'
"You're welcome my daughter. If only your family would accept you."
"Daddy, they are not my family after disowning me. You're my new daddy."
"And wha' abou' tha' crew? Are we na' family too?" asked Sparky.
Jane turned and hugged her. "Yes, all of you are family, now let's help Johnny please."
"It all depends upon if his Captain chooses to sell Johnny's commission to me, but old Steel Britches is a firm and fair commander. He'll not let Johnny rot in jail." 'Can't let them know that he is a Trillannii Friend.'
Carter turned and headed for his ship, the Aztec. The walk, though short, seemed a marathon. The Aztec was a long, lean version of the Rim Queen. As he approached the gangplank, he saw his best friend, Security Chief Brett "Brick" Steele standing there waiting for him with a bemused look on his face as he pondered the scene that he had witnessed below. Brick was a tall dark-skinned bald powerfully built man with gray eyes, his somber brown armor accentuating his physique.
Brick stood aside to let his shipmate enter. "Hello John." 'Looks as if Johnny now has a sweetheart. If she is the one that has caused all of the trouble, then I must say that she is most definitely worth it in my book, but does John think so too?'
Seeing the bemused expression of his trusted friend, John knew that Brick had witnessed the kiss and perhaps more. "Hi Brick." John sighed tiredly. 'At least Brick is there for me in my time of need. I never would have made it through boot camp without his friendship.'
Brick smiled as he thought of John's reputation among the crew. "I heard that you opened a can of 'Whup Ass' upon Bronson and his cohorts Jones and Walsh. I wish that I could have been there to help you out. If it had've been me instead of you, then it'd have simply been me dealing out justice as Security Chief. As it is, you are in trouble that I can't get you out of."
"Understood." Johnny shrugged. "Did they say why?" 'I wonder if they tried to lie? Not that it'd do them very much good with the Captain and Brick.
Brick shook his head. "No, sadly only that you attacked them. As if you would! No, I know you far better than that my friend and so does the good Captain. Knowing him, he'll ferret out the truth from them even without the security tapes and my eyewitness account of the incident."
John stared wide eyed at hids friend. "If you saw it, why didn't you help me?"
"I was on Monitor Duty and couldn't get to you before you ended the fight. You were so quick that I couldn't get there in time. Besides, you didn't need my help!"
John shook his head. "I guess you didn’t believe them then. Brick, you never did like Bronson's attitude."
Stopping the both of them in the Crew's Mess, Brick sat down at the Captain's Table, as did John. Brick looked John square in the eye. "Would you?" His question conveyed understanding to John.
"No, not at all, but he has his friends on board who can cause trouble," John said.
"Ah, my friend, if you only knew about all of the support and friends that you have made on board." 'Poor Jonathan believes that the coward has a way to influence the outcome of the trial.
Deep in the heart of Moon Base One was a simple shop with "Mary's Dress Shop" above the doorway. Within the shop were racks of clothing of all sorts for all genders and ages. Mary's Dress Shop occupied four acres of space to house the shop, a tailoring section to fit the needs or wants of the customer, and a factory to produce the goods. Behind the sales desk was a door leading to the manager's office and utility room with a hidden door leading down into the bowels of the Moon.
This hidden Base of Operations was the new headquarters for the M.I.B.D. The Agency's former bases were now sanctuaries for the transgendered people, stranded on the Moon and the Earth by Imperial Policy. Each client was treated to a session in the Booth: a personal sized tubular chamber that used nanobots to transform the body. Once transformed, the client was given a new identity and sent to the Rim, or if they wished, they could join the Agency and still live within the Empire.
A woman, wearing a black skin suit with an equipment belt around her waist, entered the shop. The emblem on her rebreather tanks on her back showed her to be a freelance repair engineer. As she stepped up to the counter, an Oriental woman wearing a black, silk kimono with a stylized red dragon on the back greeted her. "Greetings, my Lady. How may I, Lotus Blossom serve you, this fine day?" 'It's not often that we get an Agent from Earth up here. Something big must be up.'
"Thank you, Lotus Blossom. I am Starr. I am looking for a very special gown," she replied, swiping her hand over the palm reader.
Lotus Blossom saw the 'URGENT" warning flash under the I.D. file. "Oh? What sort of gown, Starr?" 'Damn! I was right! What in the hell has the Emperor done, now?'
"For a concert, I have the chance to see the Princess."
Lotus triggered the door, letting Starr behind the desk. "Follow me, then. We have a selection of special gowns hidden away for special occasions."
"Oh? Why hidden?" 'If not for the Imperial spy cams, there would be no need for our coded phrases.'
Lotus said, "Few can afford the prices of these. Now, if you were one of the Royals, you'd easily have the money." 'That will make the spies laugh. They know that none of the Emperor's Clan would visit here.'
"Proceed, please."
Lotus led Starr deep into the base below, going through a hidden door located between solid bulkheads, while another Agent, from the Manager's Office, replaced her in the shop. Lotus and Starr entered a transport tube that whisked them down into the bowels of the Moon, shielded from Imperial scanners via a shell of foam that fooled all scanners. The base itself was in one of the many caves that inhabited the Lunar Mountains built from the tunneling debris from creating one of the many bases and housing complexes on the Moon.
"Care for anything?"
"I wouldn't mind a mug of ginger beer, Lotus. Are you fully female?" If she is a man, I can't tell the difference.'
Lotus operated a control on the panel by her seat and a foamy mug came out with a plate of pretzels. "One beer, with pretzels for you. And yes, I am now fully female. I was awarded a session with the Chamber upon graduating from training."
Starr sipped her beer. "Good ginger. So, are you an Agent, or simply here until transport can be arranged for you?"
"I am an Agent from Japan. I knew that I was a girl at a young age, so my family sent me to the Agency's Training School in America."
"Oh? I thought that you'd have attended the school in Japan."
"I would have, but my parents graduated from there."
Starr paused for a moment. "Does that mean that you can still see them?"
"Yes, at least when I'm at the base school. They're teachers, now."
"That makes sense." Starr nodded as the tube came to a stop. She took a final swig of her beer, and put the glass in the receptacle before stepping out into a foyer. Then she approached the reception desk.
"Greetings, ladies," said a red haired woman wearing a black swimdress. "I am Mary, the Base Commandant. I bid you welcome."
"Thank you, Mary. I am Starr. I have vital data to pass on to J.O.S.H.U.A."
Mary shifted her gaze from Starr to the Agent. "Very well. Lotus, since your time topside is almost up, you may see your family over in the Eastern Farming Compound." There, Lotus will be able to pass on the data to the Organic Computer for analysis.'
Lotus bowed. "Thank you, Mary." She smiled as she contemplated a happy reunion with her family.
"As for you, Starr, please come with me to my office. There, you can have another ginger beer," Mary said with a smile. She may be from Texas, but she fell in love with the British during her tour over there.'
"Thank you kindly, Ma'am. I do have a hankering for that tasty brew."
Mary touched an object on the wall mural behind her desk. A cleverly disguised panel slid open. In her office, Mary wasted no time. She asked Starr directly, "Okay, what is the data?"
"We now know why the Emperor is amassing the Fleet around the border, Ma’am."
"Why is that?"
"To protect his daughter, Princess Ariel from harm. But that's not the worst news. Jellico is her guardian."
"Oh great."
"What about Bronson? With his contacts and being the son of a Grand Admiral, he can call on his dad to bail him out. I know that the rest of the crew respects me, but how many support him? You know that's one of the Empire's greatest vices. So how do you stop it when the entire system is based upon passing your title on to your chosen successor?"
Brick shook his head slowly before answering, "Bronson's dad, Grand Admiral Carl Riley Bronson, is from the Imperial Merchant Fleet. Do you think that he has any authority in the Fleet?"
John adopted Rodin's "The Thinker" position as he looked at his friend Brick in amusement. "No, that he never revealed. There are Grand Admirals out there in charge of different departments and projects. I never thought about the Merchants having one." 'I am glad that I have Brick on my side during the upcoming court martial, he will keep things real for me.'
Brick nodded. "I thought as much. Besides, the Captain heard the alarm broadcast sent to all ships. So he did see the attack and you defending her. Don't worry, I didn’t include you and her kissing in my report, nor on tape with the Captain's permission. Bronson is being interviewed by the Captain himself."
Johnny breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks my friend, but I have news for you. She was not a regular woman." 'And my friend, I would do it again, too.'
Brick's gentle amusement was replaced with surprised awe as he contemplated the possibilities. "Oh? What is she then? The only other possibility that can be causing you this much trouble is that she is one of the Trans. And knowing you and your luck, she is," he admitted with a sigh.
Placing his hand upon Brick's shoulder in friendship, John uttered the bad news. "She is a Trans, my friend. I seriously doubt that you will enjoy the news, knowing how much it is that you detest the Trans haters." 'If he had known, he'd have been sorely tempted to hurt them.'
Brick looked his best friend in the eye and sighed in resignation. "Then unfortunately, your career is over and there is nothing that the Captain can do but follow Naval Policy. The Captain will hate having to lose you, now he will have no choice in the matter. Damn it all! Why in the blazes did Bronson have to attack her? He causes nothing but trouble!"
John stood up to face the music. "I know." 'At least Bronson will be gone after this.'
Going over to Carter, Brick placed a massive, meaty hand upon each of his shoulders. "John Carter, I will miss you. But now I must be strong for the both of us and do my duty and yours until the Captain finds another Executive Officer to take over. But it will be a pleasure to guard Bronson."
John smiled as he thought back to the many adventurous shore leaves that they had shared. "Thanks Brick, I will miss you too. No more casino runs or poker tournaments for us. Too bad, we were the best of the best, too."
After signing off, the Grand Admiral called the bridge. "Captain Jackson, take us to the Imperial Palace Dock." 'I wonder just what it is that the Emperor wants me to do now?'
The view screen activated to show a worried middle-aged balding man. "Lord Admiral, we are about to leave the system. Why must we abort the jump?"
"Because the Emperor has demanded my presence immediately, I can't really blame you Captain for asking. After all, I am basically ordering you to scuttle his ship with a *Full Burn."
Reacting quickly, the Captain did some compensatory computing and saw a solution. "A jump will cause as much damage as a Full Burn. Shall I make a jump to the dock then?"
"Please do. That is if it’s quicker than a Full Burn." 'This Captain deserves a medal for original thinking. I'll make sure that the crew is saved from The Pits for harming Imperial Property. They are obeying the Emperor after all.'
Checking the results, the Captain warned, "At this distance, a jump is quicker, but the Short Jump will scrap the Transition Coils."
"Scrap 'em then, the Emperor is impatient." The Lord Admiral cut the transmission. 'Not even a Throne Ship can withstand such stresses. No need to punish anyone for carrying out the order. Too bad, I could use some entertainment.'
Captain Jackson saw the Imperial Seal on the screen, denoting transmission end. "Well, since Jolleck ordered it, compute and initiate a jump to Imperial Palace Dock, but keep an eye on the coils. It's barely possible that they'll survive. If not, they'll make great projects for the Engineering Colleges."
"Aye aye, Sir. Course plotted and initiated."
Then the vessel jumped as the coils shredded from the stress.
*{A Full Burn occurs when the Reaction Drive suddenly jumps to full speed. Such an action creates a time warp as time on the ship slows down. If the Coils are already hot from a Transition, the Full Burn and Short Jump will not harm the Coils, which is why a ship seldom if ever shuts down the coils. The Transition Coils help the ship govern the tidal forces of the engines and prevent jumping to another time.}
They broke up expecting the worst. Brick escorted John Carter to the Captain's Ready Room. When the door opened, Captain Hector Abraham was seated behind his desk while Bronson stood in front of the desk.
Seeing Carter, Bronson immediately began to show fear. 'Shit! Now that he is here, I have no chance to redeem myself! Any hope of him actually going AWOL is gone now! My goose is cooked as well as his!'
As John approached with Brick, the Captain smiled at them. "Welcome John Carter, it seems as if Bronson has a complaint against you. As if I would ever believe that scoundrel, what with all of his demerits stacked against him. He has bullied the civilians when he could and shown very little respect for anybody. His father will be ashamed of him." 'Now to see him squirm.'
Brick and John stood "at ease" as was the custom, whereas Bronson leaned forward over the Captain in disrespectful bravado to bolster his waning courage. "And I have a complaint against him as well," replied Johnny. 'If I know the Captain, then he will just love the chance to cashier Bronson out of the service and now I can help even though I will be too.'
Bronson turned towards them and placed his hands upon his hips. "What are you, a tranny lover!?" sneered Bronson. "Can't you find a real woman or do you enjoy slumming to get your demented jollies? You disgust me with your perverted ways!" 'Even if I am as good as dead, I can still make sure to have a record of this hearing.'
Tired of Bronson's attitude, the Captain subtly signaled the Security Chief, "Brick?" 'Brick can act in ways that regulations prevent me from doing. Too bad, because I would love to manhandle that toad for causing all of this.'
Brick grabbed Bronson by his lapels and growled menacingly, "Have a care Crewman Bronson. You are up for court martial. It would be my distinct pleasure to space you as you deserve." 'Now to make him fear me. It shouldn't be that hard to do with this wimp.'
Seeing that Bronson was suitably cowed, the Captain said, "Easy there Brick, you may tend to him shortly, but I must deal with his charges against John." 'One of the most dreaded burdens of Naval Command for me. If I was the Captain of a Merchant Cruiser, I wouldn't be having this problem.'
Brick dropped the frightened crewman. "Yes Sir." ‘Ah, so Bronson is a 'wetter.' This should make things even better.'
Looking at the spreading stain, the Captain remarked, "Unfortunately for you, you will have to wear your uniform as per regulations, until all charges are dropped, all of your other uniforms are confiscated." 'He must have spent a small fortune on his custom tailored wardrobe. Too bad for him, because now all of his belongings are the Navy's and will go to the Naval Thrift Store, at least that which the crew doesn't help themselves to.
Bronson knew he was in trouble. "But Captain! This is my only uniform now that you've taken my others. You sadistic bastard! That regulation is only enforced at your discretion! You know that I paid out good money from my personal fortune for my designer wardrobe. Now you're using your authority to punish me before I leave!"
Captain Abraham grinned at Bronson's discomfort. "You should have thought about that before you wet yourself. Now one of your shipmates can of course loan you one of their spares. Which I seriously doubt will happen since you are so small in size, but you just might like dressing as a woman."
Hoping against hope, Bronson knew that his diminutive stature now worked against him. "Captain, the only one on board that is my size is Doctor Finley, and she is a woman. And it is against Regulations for me to wear her uniforms. So now you will have to give me back at least one change of clothing, even if it is from the replicators." 'Glad that regulations will deny him that choice.'
The Captain flipped a switch upon his desk. "Doctor Finley, please report to my ready room." 'Now for my fun to begin as I humiliate this jerk.'
"May I ask the reason?"
"Bronson!"
"On my way."
"While cross-dressing for men is against Regulations, Captain's Discretion gives me the power to veto any Regulations when it comes to a court martial, including all records. So your accusing John of loving a tranny is moot, because there will be no record. John's court martial is for attacking you while within the ship's landing area. That I cannot stop." 'Thank God about that rule or Johnny would be sent to the Penal Planet for life.
Bronson fell into a nearby seat as John Carter looked at the defeated crewman, then turned to the Captain. "You wouldn't! No, you would now that you can get away with it, thanks to the Regulations. You sneaky bastard, I wholly approve of what is about to befall Bronson. Now I have a chance at life." 'Guess Jane was right, after all.'
The Captain smiled at the dismay on Bronson's face. "Yes, John Carter, I would like to show him just how it is to be treated as he treats women." Then looking at Bronson in disgust, he spat, "You asshole! Because of you, I'm about to lose the best damned Executive Officer in the Fleet! And all this time, you fancied yourself as his replacement. Hardly!"
Bronson did his best to defend himself. "But that was a tranny! Can't you see that I was doing just what the Emperor would want me to do?" 'Maybe that will change his mind.'
The Captain defused Bronson's defense with his track record. "Yes Bronson, and you have been brought up on charges of rape before now. Your punishment is to dress as a woman for the crew until we reach a naval base, then you will be returned to normal. If you had any rank, I'd demote you as well, but you seem to enjoy being at the same rank as a new plebe." 'Even if the Emperor would disapprove of my punishment, he hates rapists.'
At that moment, Doctor Finley entered the room. Seeing Bronson, she grinned. "May I assume that Bronson is why I am here? I knew that this day would come after he raped me and got away with it. The only reason that I stayed on."
The Captain helpfully pointed at the stain on Bronson's uniform. "Yes, he seems to have wet himself and needs a change of clothing. Bronson, I suspect Dr. Finlay will simply delight in your punishment since you got away with raping her, thanks to your connections." 'Now let him stew over that fact!! I couldn't punish him before for raping her. All that I could do was promise her retribution when the time came, and now it has come.'
Delighting in the dismay etched upon Bronson's face, Dr. Finlay continued to humiliate him. "Does he not have his own uniforms, or has he decided to wear my uniforms for a change of pace?" she asked, giggling. 'None at all knowing the Captain. This is so much fun! Payback is a bitch when it comes around.'
The Captain prolonged the charade much to John, Brick's and Finley's delight as they looked on silently amused at Bronson's dismay. "Well now, normally he would, but he is court martialed for accosting a civilian." 'Let him just try to justify what he did and defend his actions! Both Imperial Law and Naval Policy punish rapists, even if the victim is Trans-Gendered.'
Bronson tried to regain some dignity. "I accosted a 'tranny' you mean? A tranny is not a woman, neither were my other victims except for the doctor. Besides, they deserved it for being a Trans."
"Yes, you got away with those rapes because of your connections and the fact that they were inter-sexed. However, Imperial Policy allows them to choose their gender. Raping them almost ended you up in the Penal Planet, but your dad stopped it."
Finally, the doctor tired of the charade. "Brick, if you will please follow me with him, I can tend to his needs momentarily. I have the perfect outfit too. One that'll show off Bronson's assets/shortcomings quite nicely too."
The Captain reluctantly stopped her from completing her fun. "Please wait, Doris, I have the sad duty of the court martial of John Carter, too. I want that bastard to see what it means to be a real officer and a gentleman. Bronson had his chance and he blew it royally."
Doris stopped in her tracks and did a double take before turning around to face the Captain. "But why? John Carter is the best that you have, with the possible exception of Brick here! They have both been there when I had my nightmares from the rape. They treated me like a sister. And I can never thank them enough.'"
John placed a friendly hand upon her shoulder. "Doris, I stopped Bronson and his friends from raping a tranny earlier tonight. He should have been canned long ago. That is why I am here. Little sister, you will still have Brick here for you while I shall be alone."
Doris hugged John to her as she wept. "Oh Johnny, you and your high ideals. But at least you took out those three scum bags. I will miss you my sweet knight. How I wish that things were different." 'Then we could be lovers, but you are too much of a gentleman and friend to let sex interfere with our friendship because you knew that Brick and I are intimate.'
John gently put his hand on her cheek to help wipe the stream of tears from her eyes. "Well Doris, you have Brick now to console you. I know that you two are a good match." 'Maybe it's time for Brick to make his move.'
John made a subtle motion to his good friend.
Brick came over and knelt in front of Doris, holding a golden band in his hand. "Doris, light of my life, will you marry me?" 'Thanks John, I was reluctant to ask what with your trouble taking place, but I know that you want to hear her answer.'
"Brick, you know that I also fancy John. Do you trust me not to fail and seek him out?"
Brick laughed heartily. "Doris, I love you with all of my heart! I know that you fancy John, but you LOVE me! Will you marry me?" 'John, I trusted you and you did not fail me, thank you.'
Doris smiled. "Yes Brick, I will marry you." She jumped into Brick's arms, smothering him with kisses.
Then they gathered John into a warm embrace. Although joyous and heartfelt, the prospect that it might be their last moments together made the group hug bittersweet and they let him go.
"Okay, you two, we three musketeers are splitting up now," John began. "Doris, the reason that I never pursued a relationship with you is that Brick loves you and you love him. I'm simply a best friend to both of you. The captain bought our contracts because he is our Sponsor. If he had not have been waiting for the Aztec to be refitted, who knows where we'd be. But now, thanks to his help, I'm either going back home or posting on a new ship. Either way, we'll still stay in contact."
Brick held Doris firmly. "Yes we will. And if you post on a Merchant Cruiser, you can get us a discount."
"Agreed."
"Then I'd best hope that I can sell you to a Merchie," added the Captain.
A nagging thought tugged at John. "Captain, what about the other two? Surely they are gone as well. If not, there may be trouble."
"They are already gone. I sent them onto the Prison Barge. Where they just might salvage their careers. They were just following Bronson. Once they serve their time, I'll restore their rank, if they learn their lesson. They were actually duped into the attack."
John, fingering his Academy ring, asked, "What are the charges against me? Will I have to give up my ring? Damn! I hope not! I went through hell to get it!"
Looking down at the report, the Captain cleared his throat to dispel the rotten taste in his mouth. "Accosting three crewmen while upon shore leave. Unfortunately, I can do nothing about the charges because they were filed with the Imperial Naval Office instead of through me. But you keep your ring since you aren't going to prison. If through me, I could have swept this mess under the rug and dealt with it myself and only lost Bronson."
John, hoping against hope, asked, "Will the record show why? As if there were any doubt."
The Captain offered him a slim hope. "Yes, that you were defending a woman. At least I can hide the fact that she is a tranny, otherwise, you would face a Firing Squad or prison."'I can at least do that for you because the Envoy is my brother.'
John saw the favor that the Captain was doing for him. "Then I plead guilty." 'You rascal, you have made the case against me a moot point.'
Bronson caught a whiff of hope. "What about me? If you helped him, I just might have a chance of salvaging my career. Any hope is better than no hope at all."
The Captain, holding his gavel in his right hand, offered Bronson a way out. "Do you drop the charges against John Carter? Your answer will either save or condemn your career. And the only hope that John has of salvaging his career."
A vindictive Bronson sealed his fate. "Hell no! Let him fry, I can take any punishment, because my family will buy my freedom and buy your contract and make you my slave."
The Captain brought down his gavel with authority. "Too bad, because your friends dropped their charges. They will only serve out their term of service then get an honorable discharge or return here if they so choose. You, however, get a dishonorable discharge effective now!"
The Doctor, seeing her chance, asked, "May I assume that it is time for me to help Bronson? He will look cute when I am through with him." She smiled and giggled as Bronson squirmed.
The Captain spread his hands. "Sure Doris, have fun with him. He deserves your handiwork."
Brick quickly grabbed Bronson.
"Hey! Hands off you oaf! You have no right to touch me!"
As Bronson resisted, Doctor Doris Finley pulled a hypo from her belt and injected it into Bronson's neck. He slumped onto Brick as the hypo took immediate effect, rendering him unconscious. "Glad that I keep the hypo loaded."
"Why do you?"
"Ever since my rape, I've done so for protection, Brick."
"I'm glad that you aren't mad at me," replied a smiling Brick.
"Well, I for one want to see what you do to Bronson," admitted a curious John.
"Go ahead, John. I have some red tape to deal with," offered the Captain. 'If I don't take the time, Imperial Intelligence will be on the case and turn the entire crew into slaves. I can't let that happen.'
Brick then easily carried the limp form into the Sickbay Ward where he placed him upon a diagnostic bed. The Doctor began the transformation process. She selected different hypos, injecting Bronson with them, causing him to take on a quickly developing female form.
"These nanites will alter his DNA so that Bronson will now look as he would if born female. I could have tweaked his libido, but then there would be the possibility of a pregnancy. That would cause problems until Imperial Archives can be altered by Captain Abraham's cousin, Naval Envoy Harrigan Abraham."
Brick smiled. "I totally approve, but I doubt that Miss Bronson would," he replied, pointing at the patient.
On the bed, the body of Bronson was visibly transforming as nanites reconfigured his body into a feminine shape. The hips widened as the male sex organs pulled in and formed a vagina. An entire female reproductive system developed quickly. The internal organs rearranged to accommodate the change as the waist narrowed and breast tissue grew, filling up with fat tissue and muscle to support the milk glands. The larynx lost its bulge as the face was remolded into a softer, feminine version with fuller hair.
Pleased with the amazingly quick progress, Doris said, "It’s a good thing that disguising Naval personnel is standard or making him look like a woman would take more time. More than one male has gone on shore leave in disguise."
"Yes, as spies and for the decadent pleasure of the Emperor or Grand Admiral," added Brick. "But even the spies stay in disguise for life unless recalled."
John looked at the now female Bronson. "Is he still a guy then? He looks so cute now; he will become quite popular with the men."
The Doctor noticed the bulge in the uniform trousers of her two friends. "Yes John, she is very cute, she can revert easily enough. But will keep a hairless body."
As if on cue, Bronson awoke, and felt the dreaded changes in his body. "You people are sick." Then, realizing that he was in a highly unusual situation, he asked, "What's gonna happen to me now?"
"You are now my nurse. Get ready to serve, Brianna Bronson."
"What! You bitch! You will pay!!" she yelled at Doris, attempting to attack as the bed's restraining field activated, pinning her down.
"Don't take that tone with her, Missy! Your father knows about this and has sent you a recording!" said Johnny in his command voice. Across from the bed, a viewscreen activated to reveal an older version of Bronson.
'Glad that Hector called me before my child did. Now maybe my son will stop being an ass.' "Son, or rather, daughter. I am tired of using my rank as Admiral to cover over your crimes. Enjoy your new life! Maybe after you have served your sentence, I might reinstate your access to the accounts. Until then, you will have only what the Navy pays you," he said as the viewscreen cut to black.
"How could he do that?" Bronson whimpered, "The Trans had it coming."
"Get over it," John said. "You lost. Make the best of your new situation."
Without his father's support, there was no hope for Bronson wiggling out of his punishment. "I know I never lived up to his expectations. But what am I to do now? Without money?"
Doris took charge of her new assistant. "You shall be here as my nurse. Now go change into your new uniform." 'I am very sure that these two will appreciate the new and improved Bronson.'
Bronson followed the doctor to a cubicle. Within minutes, she came back out attired in nurses' whites. Bronson now wore a mini-dress uniform with matching bloomers over white tights and Mary Janes. The elastic waist was set off by a matching apron holding pouch containing a variety of instruments and hypos.
"She looks so sexy in that, especially with the slits to the waist on the sides to show the bloomers," approved Johnny.
"That is my old uniform from my academy days," Doris replied, looking at him. "Bronson, now if you do a good job here, you will have it a lot easier than you think. It's up to you. You can still have a career if you choose. As a nurse, that is."
"But the men will be pinching my butt. And these two are getting excited, looking at me, too!" exclaimed Bronson as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Can you blame us for appreciating how pretty you are?" asked Brick.
"Do you believe that either of us will attack you?" asked Johnny.
"No, you are both much better than to do what I did as a male," she admitted with a sigh.
"Yes they are, and you will be making visits all over the ship, either with me, or alone. They do it to me too, that is why I use male nurses, but you need this lesson," promised Doris as she placed a sympathetic hand upon her shoulder.
Bronson wiped her eyes and looked pleadingly at Doris. "Will they know that I am me? Please say no."
The doctor tried to reassure her, "It is up to you to reveal that. All that they will see is a nurse, not a former crewman."
A voice over the ship's intercom system called out, "Nurse needed in Engineering."
Quickly Doctor Finlay hung a necklace with a RED CROSS emblem pendant around Bronson's neck. "Gather your kit and go nurse. Good thing that you passed Advanced CPR."
Bronson saluted her new Commanding Officer. "Yes ma'am. Maybe I can salvage my career. As a nurse, I might sleep my way to the top," she quipped as she headed out of sickbay. Immediately the Doctor, along with Brick and John, proceeded to the Captain's Ready Room where they could view Bronson handling the medical call in Engineering.
Nurse Bronson passed the Captain as she proceeded to Engineering where she had to deal with fresh men as she answered the call. The emergency was a crewman suffering from exposure to a hot coil. Nurse Bronson realized that the crewman needed an anti-radiation pill. Bronson tried to reassure her patient that the exposure wasn't too bad. He would recover. However, she wasn't sure what to make of the crewman's attempt to hug her.
"Well, as you can see, she is getting a crash course in men," Doctor Finlay observed. 'Looks like Bronson is a closet girl coming out from her actions. So few know until they're given their chance.'
"Just so Doctor, as for me, I am glad that I am not her," said the Captain. "All she needs now is to bed one of them."
Doris turned towards John. "Take care John. Goodbye for now, I hope we meet again," she said, giving him a kiss as she gently wept.
John took her right hand as he knelt before her and kissed her hand. "Thanks Doris. You have been a good friend and sister to me." 'I could never love you more as my sister.'
'Such a Knight of the ancient Code of Chivalry. You are an officer and a gentleman, Jonathan Lee Carter.' Doris turned away from John, hoping to hide her sorrow.
A duty bound Brick escorted John away to his quarters, where he would be held in detention, while the Captain remained to talk to the Doctor.
