"Auditor."(Kevin Hughes) It was an ordinary Space Freighter. She had fifty six crew, carried kilotons of cargo, and spent five months at a time in Space. Most of that time was spent climbing out of Gravity Wells, since you could very well bend Space and Time near a planet. So you had to travel by photon nets until you were well away from any normal matter of any size. And that took weeks. Sometimes, months.

And just like in the olden days, the Captain was God. Literally. He could decide if you lived…died…or ever got another berth on another ship. Most Captains thought that meant they had to maintain the highest standards, both personally and professionally. A few…a very few…thought it meant they could do whatever they wanted. That’s where I come in.

I am an Auditor.

******

“What is the meaning of this, Jenkins? You can’t treat me and my Officers like this. I won’t stand for it.”

His face was red, closing in on purple. Part of that was from being hauled out of Stateroom Naked. Part of it was from Williams bending his arm up to an impossible angle.

I barked a command.

“Sit.”

Williams made sure he sat. A soft squishy sound followed is body being slammed into the metal Galley chair. Perkins, my second in Command, was gently herding the Spec 1 Astrogator from behind the Captain. Like the Captain she had been naked in his cabin…but not by choice. Perkins had covered her with a blanket and was handing her a clean ship suit to slip into. He held the blanket like a curtain, and averted his eyes. When she was dressed, she turned to look at me.

“What do want me to say?”

“To me? Nothing. But I would like you to say whatever comes to mind about this …this…bag of turds in an Officer’s Uniform. “

“I will lose my job. I can’t say anything.”

The Captain glared at her

“You’re damn right. I am the Captain and I can make or break you.”

That’s when the fire in her eyes lit up.

“Break me? Never. I couldn’t do anything while we were underway, but once we port…well, let’s just say you won’t be giving orders any more…or any where.”

“Are you threatening me?”

She smiled.

“No. Promising.”

I let him stew on that for a while. I could see that all three of the other slugs that were masquerading as Officers were starting to realize their predicament. They never expected three Able Spacers, one of them who acted dumb as a rock, to be members of the Interstellar Marines. Nor did they expect me, a mere Petty Officer …and a Galley Officer at that, to be their Commander. I outranked a Ship’s Captain by quite a margin. Even if the ship had been Fleet, and not Cargo…I would still outrank anyone actually sailing a ship through Space. I didn’t earn that rank by taking on the easy tasks.

I told her to speak freely. She did. We called in seventeen other members of the Crew. All female. Then we called in six of the Crew…all male. It didn’t take long for them to paint a horrible picture of the abuse of power, Sadism, and control. It was all I needed.

“Log it all. Bring in the ones who could have done something…and did not. We know the ones who tried to fight …and lost. I shall make my recommends then.”


Soon we had the minor players restricted to one of the smaller cargo holds. We gave them food, water, and bedding…and little else. With four months left in the Voyage, they would have served their punishments by the time we got to Port. We would put them all off with just their shipsuists and five months of pay. They didn’t participate in the atrocities, but they didn’t try and stop them. So they are accountable for their inaction. Maybe they could find another berth…maybe not. I didn’t care. They took the cowards way out…and only courage would find a way to bring them back in. Maybe now they will grow a spine. I have my doubts.

I had Perkins bring in Stacey, the only female member of my Team. She was an expert in Psychological Interrogation. She was also an expert in Human Anatomy. She could bring incredible pain, without leaving a single bruise, cut, or abrasion. Physical or Mental pain, sometimes, both. When they saw the “Special Branch” Logo on her Marine Patch…all four Officers blanched. The color drained completely from their faces. One of them, Salier send his name tag, wet himself in fear. I would have too if Stacey looked at me the way she looked at them.

Finally, she did turn to me. Her eyes wide with anticipation.

“What are your Orders, Cap?”

I thought for a second. I truly wanted to unleash all of Stacey’s skill on these worms. But even I have to work within the Law. Sort of. I smiled.

“Well, Stacey, here’s what I think, but I bow to your expertise …and you can change any of my orders if it suits you.”

She nodded. I could see she was wondering where I was going …but she would be the final arbiter …and judge.

“Okay, what’s your plan,Cap”

I smiled. I couldn’t see my face, but Salier must have. I don’t know what my smile looked like, but I know it made Salier wet himself…again.

“I was thinking, maybe we give the women and those few men who had to put up with the bullying and shenanigans of these …offal…might like a few hours alone with them. This time with the shoe on the other foot, so to speak. Of course, I would expect you to be in the room to…supervise, and you know, keep things from getting out of hand.”

Stacey’s smile became harder.

“Oh, I like that plan Cap, any restrictions?”

I looked over at the four cowering formerly powerful Officers. Neither pity, nor mercy came to my mind. Or heart. But I did think about the Law. And I was it.

“I think, no sharp instruments, and no fatal acts, or actions. Anything else is up to your discretion.”

Stacey nodded.

“I think that is wise. And for how long, and how often?”

I pretended to think a little. Stacey winked at me. I think she already knew.

“Well, let’s see…we are ten day out…another six weeks to the translation point…and then two solid months until we Port. So I was thinking, didn’t these guys take advantage of their rank and power…every day they were out in Space?’

“Yes, Sir, that is what all the Reports showed.” Said Jenkins.

“It only took us ten days to verify that, Sir. “ Said Williams.

“Okay then, Stacey. I think you can set up any cycle of karma you would like. Just don’t kill them. Just make them wish they were dead. Let the Crew funnel out their rage in any way short of death. “

“Aye, aye, Cap.”

She smiled as Willams and Jenkins stripped the other three Officers and taped them to chairs. She gave a hidden signal to Jenkins. Jenkins, gave a small finger wave and went out into the hallway. A moment later and he brought a bewildered Spec 1 Astrogator back into the Wardroom. She looked around at all of us grim faced, but smiling Marines.

“What…what…what do you want me to do?”

Stacey smiled a very warm smile as she handed a short rounded wooden truncheon to the bewildered Astrogator. She put the truncheon in the woman’s hand, made sure she had a good grip on it. Then turned her to face the former Captain of her Ship.

“Whatever you would like, Dear…you just can’t kill him, or any of them. Just go until your arm gets tired…or you have had enough.”

The timidness disappeared as she stepped towards the former Captain. His eyes reflected wary fear. Her eyes only saw the image of his hand raising with the whip and the whistling sound it made as he left welts on her naked body. She swung the truncheon with all the force of that memory. The former Captain recoiled as a couple of teeth flew out the bloody gash she left in his cheek. He barely had time to scream before the second blow rained down.

Stacey leaned back against the wall. She wanted to tell they young woman to save her strength, after all there were three more Officers she needed to confront with her humiliation and deprivation. But Stacey held her tongue. After all, there were still plenty more Crew that had to come in and vent their anger against these creeps. She saw the other three creeps trying to move away from the squeals of pain, and the blood spilling everywhere.

They looked at her with a look of pleading for mercy locked in their eyes. Stacey merely smiled as she said:

“Karma’s a bitch.”

It was a long five months. The Medical Crib healed the worst of the physical trauma, but as soon as they could heal, they were put back in front of their Victims. The last month…the four were left alone with their thoughts. The Crew, including the Spec 1 Astrogator had moved on from revenge to something even worse…indifference.

My Audit was complete. Let God sort out the rest.

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