Dan woke with Janda's fingers in his mouth.
"He's coming around," one of the security warned as Dan started to move.
"Hold still," Janda commanded. "I'm almost done." Moments later the fingers retreated and Dan sat up. He was on a small cot in the security bay. "You lost a couple teeth," Janda said as he went to a sink to wash his hands. "I've patched them up. You'll be fine."
Dan looked around the crowded room. Memories of the assault rushed over him. Both Captains stood near the door, watching over the scene. Three security personnel were there, Janda and...
"He hit me. Why isn't he bound?" Klempke demanded from where he was sitting. His hands had been bound together.
"Shut up, Sailor," Captain Lannister barked. "We will deal with you later."
"You have lost some teeth as well. May I treat?" Janda asked, a coldness in his voice.
"I don't want one of them touching me," Klempke snarled, refusing to meet Janda's gaze. "Especially one who's probably a fag."
"I know what that word implies," Janda said. "It is factually incorrect, but if I loved another man, I'd wear the word with pride. As to treatment, you can live without teeth if that is your wish." At a nod from Captain Dowlings, Janda left.
"He hit me, Captain," Klempke continued to insist. "You have to punish him, too."
"You stand accused of a very serious crime," Captain Lannister told him.
"It's her word against ours," Klempke said.
Captain Lannister snorted. "You think. Caught in the act. Besides there is video."
"But..." Klempke sputtered, "they don't have access, right?" His eyes cast about for support.
"For routine surveillance, no," Bankim said. "But the legal bureau does. And you better believe they're involved."
"For tonight," Captain Lannister said. "He's refused treatment, so he can go to your brig with his pal."
"Come on," Bankim barked, yanking Klempke to his feet. "Let's go."
Sutton followed Bankim out, leaving the captains, Fox, and Sukira alone with Dan.
Captain Lannister sat on the cot next to Dan. "How are you feeling, Oleson?" he asked.
Dan rubbed his jaw. "Like I got socked in the jaw, sir. And the gut. How could they?"
The captain sighed. "I know. I wouldn't have thought any of my men capable. But..."
"But you were concerned about fraternization," Captain Dowlings said.
"I didn't think something like this would happen," Captain Lannister moaned. "A lover's quarrel, some drama in the mess. I never dreamed it would be something like this."
"Nonetheless, I should have taken your concerns more seriously. I see that now," she replied, her voice terse.
Lannister nodded. "You did the right thing, Oleson. I want you to know that. I asked you to keep an eye on things for me, and you did. But I have to ask some questions."
Dan nodded, he expected as much. "I just, I just had a gut feeling, you know. I don't know that I can explain."
"You had no idea they were going to do what they did?" Captain Dowlings asked.
Dan shook his head. "They don't hang out in the common room much, I think that was what made me suspicious. I'd never seen them there before. And, I don't know, there was something in his eyes."
"Did you have any contact with these men before tonight?" Captain Lannister asked. "Did they say anything about this plan?"
"No, sir, I swear. I never spoke with them."
"But you went to their quarters..."
"It was purely a hunch."
"It was a good one," Captain Dowlings said. "You stopped a horrible deed."
"I shouldn't have hit him, though," Dan said.
"No, you shouldn't have," Captain Lannister said.
"It is quite excusable," Captain Dowlings put in. "If I saw such a thing going on, with my own crew."
"Me, too," Captain Lannister agreed. "I understand. But you know how men like Klempke are. He'll raise a stink, here or back home. We have to be fair. You understand, Oleson?"
Dan nodded.
"No," Captain Dowlings protested. "He stopped a crime in progress. I don't think pursuing any action against him is necessary." Under Captain Lannister's gaze she relented. "He is your crew. If you feel you must punish him..."
"I don't want to," Captain Lannister said. "But discipline demands something."
"Sir," Sukira put in, "our legal system has some flexibility, they would take the situation into account. It would be a very light punishment, if any is called for."
"Plus, it wouldn't have to count against his military career or legal record back home," Fox said. "If you are serious, sir, about making it look fair, why not have them rule on it? Then when we go home it's a clean slate for Oleson, but if anyone throws it out that it wasn't fair we can say, he was tried, too."
Dan nodded. "I am willing. I mean, I understand, I shouldn't have hit him. And I'd do anything to make sure they get their due."
Lannister looked hard at Sukira. "You're sure they would go easy on him? I wouldn't want to risk Oleson being punished for this."
Sukira shrugged. "Let him and the others have a legal advisor from our side, and one of yours. They can decide themselves when the facts are presented to the judge. I'll arrange it."
######
Klempke continued to protest as they led him towards the brig. "He hit me! Where's the justice?"
"Shut up," Bankim growled, "I'd hit you myself if I could."
"I won't submit to their justice. I demand to be treated as an American," Klempke complained.
Sutton yanked him around and then pushed him against the wall, hard. He got up close and snarled in his face. "Why? Do I think I'd be more lenient on your pathetic ass? Don't count on it. Go ahead and beg for American justice. I'll see you in Leavenworth for fifteen years, you piece of shit. Now move!" He pushed Klempke down the hall, and Klempke went, unresisting.
Green was already in a small cell. The front of the cell was thick glass with a smear of blood across it. The healer, Janda stood in front of the cell. Green himself lay on the bunk, his body tight with rage.
"You broke your hand," Janda argued. "You really should have that treated. The pain has to be bad. And it will only get worse."
"Fuck you," Green said, refusing to move.
Klempke was pushed into another and a glass door slid shut. Janda was now looking at one of the other security officers, an American named Crestor.
"I will call you if he changes his mind," Crestor said. "But I don't plan on losing any sleep over his comfort."
Everyone except Crestor left the room. Klempke stood pressed against the glass front. He had no desire to test the glass the way Green obviously had. Green spared him a single glance.
Klempke knew that look. They were royally fucked. And worst of all, they hadn't satisfied that itch. He turned back towards his bunk and lay down, his body shaking suddenly.