Her Commanders - M.K. Eidem Page 0,15

had Tay keeping an eye on the crowds inside. If trouble broke out, his presence alone was usually enough to squash it, but if not, then either Lin or Wafa, the other Protectors on duty, would assist him. It also allowed Tay to keep an eye on Mae, which Cali knew he needed.

Finishing up the drink she was working on, she placed it on the counter, then swiped the male's credit chip and handed it back to him. Drinks served at the bar had to be paid for immediately. Once someone at a table initially scanned their chip, a table could run a tab. That was how Nox was able to run hers up so high.

Thoughts of Nox had her smile fading. She hadn't heard from him yet, and that worried her. Two days had already passed. He only had one more. If he thought she was bluffing about filing that complaint, he didn't know her at all. The harshest taskmaster in the universe taught her not to be soft when it came to business or anywhere else, for that matter. She could see the benefits of the first, and to a point, followed it, but not the second. She'd experienced firsthand the pain that type of unbending attitude caused. It's why she distanced herself from her family as much as possible.

Shouts from across the room pulled Cali from her dark thoughts, and she watched as Tay quickly broke up a fight and dragged the two combatants out of the bar. Just another night at The Brink.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Taarig entered Jamis’s office an hour before the light shift began, unsurprised to find his friend and Commander already there and staring out one of the few private viewports on the station. It wasn't large, only about the size of Jamis’s desk, but it was something Taarig much appreciated, as he loved the openness and freedom viewing the stars gave him.

"Reports," was all he said as he slid the tablet across the oversized metal desk that was strong enough to handle the pounding an angry Apre Commander sometimes gave it, then took one of the chairs in front of it.

Jamis spun around in his seat and gave the tablet a disgruntled look. Gods, he hated the endless reports that came with having this position, but he hated taking orders even more. "Already?"

Taarig just shrugged. "The final credit disbursement report needs your verification along with the fuel usage report. A notification came in from The Wik Corp, informing us that there has been a change in the ownership of The Brink." They both knew it was only a courtesy. While Star Bases were designed as military facilities and protected Coalition territory, the massive conglomerate, Wik Corp, actually owned them. Wik Corp administered the upkeep and maintenance on the Star Base, including the Star Base’s lower-half shops and businesses. "Also, a complaint has been filed against one of our pilots."

Jamis had just grunted when Taarig had talked about the allotment report because he knew his second-in-command wouldn't have brought it to him if everything weren't in perfect order.

When Taarig mentioned The Brink, his thoughts immediately went to a certain dark-haired, brown-eyed Earthan and wondered how this would affect her. He could admit to himself that he found himself thinking about her at the oddest times. Like every time he cleansed, and his cock got so hard, he had to use his hand to find release. He'd even found himself in a lift about to press The Brink's level before he realized what he was doing. Now he would have a valid excuse to seek her out.

But Jamis’s focus completely changed when Taarig commented someone filed a complaint. While complaints weren't unheard of, Jamis took each one personally.

"What's the complaint?" Jamis demanded, reaching for the tablet.

"Thievery. The accusation is the pilot used another's credit chip without permission."

"How is that possible? Credit chips require identification."

"I don't know, but the complainant will be here in an hour. I notified the pilot and ordered him to be here, too."

"Who's the pilot?"

"Ah," Taarig pulled out his tablet and looked up the name and file. "Pilot First Class Nox Trudo. He's been on the base just over half a standard-year. He hasn't had any other complaints filed against him here, but it looks like there were a few at his last post. All from females with whom he was involved. The claims were either dropped or unsubstantiated."

Jamis nodded understandingly. It happened. Many females wanted to latch onto a