The heat of the water flowed across her face and down her body. Willing her muscles to loosen, she closes her eyes and exhales a breath of frustration. The showers in the barracks smelt of disinfectant and wet male, and it didn’t really help to ease her mind. At least most of the other Marines were on duty, allowing her the chance to shower in relative peace without the eyes of her new fire team inspecting her. The UAC being an equal opportunity employer believed in cohabitation and teamwork of its corps. As grand a notion as equality is the plain truth is that most heterosexual men are constantly thinking of sex. It made her remember her basic training when one of the recruits she was showering with became aroused next to her. She laughed a little at the thought. He never did it again after she kneed him. Giving up the solitude, she shuts off the water and makes her way to the lockers to dress.
She went through the motions of readying herself to report to the master sergeant for assignment. Fixing her utility uniform she walks toward the sinks. Looking up at the face in the mirror, God, I look like hell. Her blue eyes were still bloodshot and haggard. Her pale skin looked slightly paler than usual. The days without a decent night’s sleep and the stress of the court-martial had caught up with her. She tried in vain to sleep during the transport to Mars, but her mind refused to shut down long enough to relax. She tucks her black hair behind her ears. I hope I don’t have to cut it. I look retarded with a high and tight. Her hair wasn’t that long, coming down slightly to the bottom of her ears, but by military standards it was almost civilian trashy. She takes one last look at her self, inspecting her uniform for fault. Time to get this over with.
Walking into central command she approaches a young Marine who abruptly points to an office without even looking up from his computer terminal.
“Master Sergeant is waiting for you to report. Get in there.”
She walks into the office promptly coming to attention to a gruff looking man in his late forties.
“Sir, Corporal Corbin, reporting for duty, sir.”
He looks up from the terminal screen to eye her. She stands at attention waiting. He takes a deep breath and scowls.
“Corbin, Alexandra, ID 25451-11. Finished boot camp in the top platoon and was in Force Reconnaissance. Specialized in tactical maneuvers and a 2 degree black belt from MCMAP. Awarded the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. Busted down to Corporal for insubordination during the Hayes Conflict.”
Corbin stood stone faced and unmoving staring at nothing. He looks at her disapprovingly.
“You’re in my command now, Marine. I do not tolerate insubordination of any kind. You so much as look the wrong way; I swear when I’m done, you’ll be a Private cleaning latrines on an orbital frigate. Do I make myself clear?”
“Sir, yes, sir.”
He picks up a PDA and hands it to her.
“You are assigned to Beta labs. Report to Sergeant Bridges for debriefing. Dismissed.”
Corbin walks out of command with a PDA in hand. Just what I thought a prince among men. She makes her way to Beta labs, getting lost along the way. The halls all looked the same and the people working there were not willing to give any directions. Finally in central receiving she found a map. Meeting Sergeant Bridges was just as lovely as Master Sergeant. After a twenty minute conniption, Bridges debriefs her on the assignment.
“You’re on watch duty in Section D. A bunch of lab coats are researching stuff you need to guard.”
"Corbin thought to herself, Great, I am a security guard.
“Dr. Warrens is head of that section. The good doctor was hassled a few days ago, so you’ll need to baby sit as well.”
Shit just doesn’t rain, it pours. “Sir, yes, sir.” She says as she is dismissed.
With the knowledge from the map Corbin walks to Section D, peeved from the events so far. She knows in her mind that this is what was to be expected, but it still feels like salt on an open wound. On top of guarding things she is being forced to watch some crack pot lab coat. If I’m lucky, he won’t be a pervert. Then the thought of watching an old man made her grimace. If I’m lucky, he won’t be an old pervert. Walking through the double glass doors into a large room Corbin is stunned with awe by the objects the technicians were working with. A large circular stone sits in the middle of the lab with seven towering obelisks surrounding it. The stones are covered with detailed carvings that look ancient. The technicians completely miss Corbin’s approach, engrossed in their work as she walks around one of the obelisks. The hair on the back of her neck rises feeling the age and majesty from the stone. She carefully raises her hand to touch it, but abruptly stops when she hears a commotion from one of the side offices.
“WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?! THAT IS ALL I NEED, ANOTHER MARINE WITH A GUN RUNNING AROUND MY LAB?!!”
The woman’s voice was high pitch and sounded as if she had reached her limit of anger. Corbin walks slowly over to the office watching the distressed woman through the window. Frantically talking with her hands, the furious diminutive blonde continues her conference with the other staff members. One of the technicians, a small balding man, adjusts his thick glasses.
“Well, Doctor, in light of the previous incident, Kelly...”
The woman cuts him off, “OH, NO. Don’t even start. It was Delta that caused the increase of security in the first place. We didn’t. AS for the INCIDENT, that was caused by some escaped mental patient who, as it so happens, was a MARINE!”
She throws up her hands and walks out of the office ranting. “Kelly can keep his gun wielding Neanderthal apes to himself. I swear I think they are all bred… to look the same?”
The woman is stopped in her tracks as she sees Corbin standing with her hands behind her back staring directly at her. The woman much shorter to Corbin’s 5’7” height looks up at her with her mouth slightly agape and blushes. Corbin cocks an eyebrow.
“Doctor Warren, I presume.”
Dr. Warren is struck silent by the sight of the woman. Since she had been on this planet, the only military personnel she has seen were men making the idea of a woman Marine seem foreign. On top of gawking, she had just called her an ape. Corbin keeps a stony expression, but relishes the scarlet look upon the woman’s face. After letting her stew in uncomfortable silence she proceeds.
“I was assigned here for security. I wasn’t told about running around wielding a weapon, so I assume that’s not part of the job.”
Dr. Warren nervously takes off her glasses and rubs the bridge of her nose.
“Look…”
“Corporal Corbin.”
“Corporal, please don’t take offense, but we don’t need the security.”
“Sorry, ma’am, that’s not for you to decide.”
Snapping from her embarrassment Warren looks at her with renewed anger.
“Excuse me? I am the director for this lab. I believe it is…”
“Under SOP’s the role of the Marines is to protect UAC interests. Master Sergeant Kelly’s orders out rank yours. If you don’t like it you’ll need to take it up with him.”
“Now wait a minute…”
“If you’d tell me where the security desk is I’ll leave you to your work.”
The short balding man pushes his way through smiling, “I’ll show you.”
“Ted?!”
“She’s right. You’ll have to take it to Kelly. Anyway, I don’t see standing here all day arguing about it being progressive. This way, Corporal” He motions to Corbin as they walk away leaving Warren standing there fuming. She mumbles as they leave.
“Be sure I WILL talk to Kelly.”
As they walk Ted takes the time to show her around, and give his life story. Apparently, Dr. Theodore Standish has done many things that in his head sound interesting. Through his lecture of personal glory, Corbin learns about the history of the finds filling the labs.
“The theory that Mars was once habitable has been a cornerstone to the research here. Over the years since the habitation of Mars, we have discovered a fossilized record of primitive life-forms. Microbes and plant-life, nothing too overly complex, but two years ago, actual archeological evidence of an intelligent species were uncovered on the cusp of Noctis Labyrinthus. Three sites in all were discovered there. Delta Labs have been researching that find.”
“What are these?” She motions to the obelisks.
“About two months ago deep within one of the smaller Mon sites to the north, we discovered them. We are calling them the Ahura because some of the iconography is reminiscent of ancient Persian art. We moved everything here piece by piece.”
“How old?”
“Carbon dating points to 41st century BCE, which may not be reliable due to the conditions on Mars. I think once we decipher the text, we would have a better idea.”
Passing by many different work stations, Ted spewed more facts and figures that seemed to go over her head. Corbin just nodded her head as they, at last, make their way to the upper security deck. The first thing she notices the multitude of monitors. The room is cramped, but the small window overlooks the main lab. As Ted leaves, he gives Corbin a concerned look.
“Don’t take what Dr. Warren said personal. She’s being protective of the project. Heck, we are all a bit guarded here with Dr. Betruger trying to transfer the find to his department. She’s just making sure we get to continue our work.”
Corbin nods as he saunters off, and proceeds with work. It really can’t be called work, more like extended boredom. The jobs of these people were extremely tedious and repetitive. It was like watching the goings on in an ant farm. The need for sleep was becoming increasingly obvious as she tried to stay awake. Drifting into microsleep for a few seconds, she would jerk awake staring wide-eyed at the screen. She found herself willing the clock to move faster. They have to stop sometime. Eventually, the clock reached 1700 hours and the workers began to leave. It didn’t take very long to secure the lab as she walked around the lab longing for her bunk. She then catches movement from one of the smaller lab sections. Cautiously she approaches the room and peers inside. She almost laughs at the spectacle of Dr. Warren in the most unlady-like position, crawling on her back underneath one of the larger workstations. She strains as she tries to connect to the wiring. Corbin stands there for a moment watching her struggle. She had to be in her late twenties, her shape is plainly revealed since she discarded her frumpy lab coat. While she wore a modest red blouse and skirt black skirt, the look suited her. She was not too athletic, but definitely well proportioned and shapely. She pushes on one of her legs to wiggle back further hiking up her dress to the middle of her thigh. Corbin blushes and tries not to look, but her eyes keep roving trying to take in the sight. To keep from further embarrassment, she decides to make her presence known.
“Excuse me, Ma’am.”
In shock Dr. Warren raises quickly, smacking her head on the underside of the desk. Pain shoots through her skull like an ice pick. She cries out and slowly crawls from under the desk holding her head as if to keep it from splitting apart. It takes a moment to let the pain subside long enough to open her eyes to look at the woman standing over her. Corbin stands there wide eyed.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“What… do you want?”
“I was locking up, and need to know how long you will be.”
“I don’t know. I usually stay late… I’ll set the system when I leave.”
“I can’t leave until all personnel have left for the day. It is protocol.”
Dr. Warren squints at her and stands, still holding her head slightly.
“Well, I guess you’ll just have to wait until I am done. I recall you stating that your assignment was not my decision. So, frankly, I don’t care how late you must stay.”
Corbin stiffens at the thought of working into the early morning. It was hard enough just to keep awake today. It was clear the woman was punishing her for this morning, knowing full well she would stay as late as needed. If she was going to be stubborn and stay, Corbin was decidedly hell bent to prove her mettle against her. She could outlast her, eventually Warren would go home.
“Fine. I’ll be at the desk.”
Hours pass and neither woman would relent to sleep. Corbin watches her closely as she works on paperwork. She notices her fatigue and her consumption of caffeine. God, she is stubborn. Glancing at the clock, she groans at the time. 0320 hours. Being denied sleep Corbin’s body starts to slow down and she starts nods off. After jerking awake for the fifth time, Corbin stands up and walks back to the offices in defeat. As she enters she sees Dr. Warren face down on the desk sleeping, her glasses on top of her head and body slumped in an uncomfortable position. Corbin gets the notion to wake her suddenly and order her home, but she can’t. She can respect why she did it, even if it was to be a pain in her ass. She bends over and picks her up taking her to the couch. Warren stirs slightly and snuggles against her causing Corbin to look down at the small woman and blush. She seems hell of a lot friendlier when she sleeps. Corbin lays her down and Warren completely passes out after her lab coat is placed over her. Walking to a corner of the room Corbin sits and leans back looking over at her. After a few moments, sleep takes hold and Corbin drifts off.
--- end Episode I ---