Having located Junior (dressed in a casual black uniform) and Trixie May (who had changed into a dark red medical smock) Dank choked down his meal and prepared to be beaten severely.
Junior noticed his stress and, when told of the incident and subsequent appointment, offered to order a halt to it.
Dank refused, "If I don't just git it over with they won't let up."
"These guys are trained killers, Dank," Junior argued, "I don't want to see you get pounded just to prove a point."
"I can't hide behind yer rank, Junior," Dank was adamant, "I got to earn a place on this crew same as everybody else."
"We plan to go with you," Trixie May attempted to mediate, "To make sure things don't get out of hand."
Dank smiled at her, "You just want to try out some of that fancy medical equipment, don't ya?"
From there, the conversation drifted to other, more pleasant topics.
While Junior and Trixie May went directly to the training deck, Dank stopped by his improvised quarters off the maintenance bay on the way. There had been no available space for another male trooper in the sleep rotation, so he had been relegated to a cot in a storage closet. At least, he thought, there is a lock on the door.
Within a few moments, Dank arrived in the crowded training deck. He looked as if he had run the long way there, as he was out of breath as soon as he entered.
Apparently, word had traveled quickly of the upcoming conflict.
Dank feared that Junior's authority was being tested more than his own ability to take a beating. Would the new commanding officer display preferential treatment? Had he brought coward aboard? A weakling?
Dank was determined to not undermine the other's view of Junior through his actions.
The crowd parted to allow Dank access to a foam padded square marked off by a thick red line.
As he stepped within the square, Dank noticed Junior and Trixie May, giving them a slight nod in greeting.
He also noticed the man from the cafeteria, who looked even larger in his tight-fitting work out fatigues.
Another, slightly smaller, man stepped out of the crowd and marched to the middle of the mat where he announced, presumably for the benefit of Dank, the ground rules for the "Training Exercise."
Chapter Thirty One Interlude
File: Datanet Core Server Gamma Alpha One Hundred and Thirty Nine, Galactic Processes, Era: Modern -0, Index Earth Prime Protection Force, Training, Data Supplied by Datanet Fleet Officer's Manual
Earth Prime Protection Force officers are expected to maintain the highest levels of physical and mental performance. In accordance with the Truth, all members of the Earth Prime Protection Force must participate in a minimum of four hours of rigorous training per day. Additionally, conflicts among the crew are to be settled through similar physical exercises. As officers are given rank based on physical challenge, disputes among the enlisted are settled in the same manner.
These competitions are rarely fatal, as a reduction in staff during operations increases the work load for everyone. However, there is no specific regulation preventing it.
A buzzer sounded from somewhere above and, as the referee dodged out of the way, the big man rushed forward to attack immediately.
Dank threw himself prone, noticing immediately that the floor was made of the toughest, least flexible foam he'd ever seen.
The big trooper slowed down and stopped, but not without a quick stumble as he tried to change directions.
Dank scrambled to his feet and ran for the far edge of the mat, ignoring the booing and hissing crew men who were watching.
He got into position and turned just as the trooper barreled after him again.
This time Dank rolled to the side and sprang up to reach the other side of the ring, but the soldier was ready for him.
With surprisingly nimble footwork for such a large man, he spun and came at Dank again, arms spread to grab and crush no matter which way Dank fled.
Instead, Dank dove forward, knocking the man's shins against Dank's shoulders and sending him toppling outside the red border.
With that, the training exercise was over.
Dank reached down to offer the man a hand up which, after a moment, was accepted. This was met with polite clapping.
"Lemme share an EcoHope 11 tradition with y'all," Dank announced to the crowd.
He pressed his way through the crowd and out the door into the corridor. A few seconds later, he came back in rolling the barrel he had stashed in the hallway.
A couple of soldiers ran over to help him move it the final few meters to the center of the mat.
Patting the top of the barrel, Dank explained, "This here is beer. Yer Datanet calls it low-grade fuel, but after a couple of cups I know y'all will see that ain't the whole story."
Someone produced cups, and before long Dank was easily the most popular person in the room.
From the far side of the crowd, Junior tipped a cup Dank's way in appreciation. He decided to leave the men to get better acquainted and find out exactly what the ship had to trade for more of Doc's beer before they left orbit. He felt certain that Trixie May could arrange a good deal.
