Jupiter Three

I saw a couple of colonial security people around today. Usually we don’t see too much of them unless there is a problem, just the occasional officer making a show of doing rounds. But these guys seemed to me lingering, just hanging out. I thought one of them looked familiar; one of the guys from the security break room we “traded” with last month.

I’m not usually paranoid, but I am making a point of watching my back.

“Someone’s been in my quarters.” Julia was upset.

“I thought we agreed not to see other people,” I joked. I was surprised by the reaction Julia showed– a when did we say that, that’s not what I’m talking about, stop being a jerk kind of look.

“Was anything taken?” I continued, shifting gears. What can I say, she caught me off guard.

“I don’t think so, just some stuff moved around.”

“Why would anyone go into your quarters; hell I haven’t even been in your quarters.”

“I don’t know Derick, why would someone go into my quarters?” She replied with great annoyance. The “you dumbass” at the end was implied.

I thought back to our little caper earlier, but Alexander said they would back off, and I believed her.

“Was there anything incriminating in there? Anything you wouldn’t want security to find?”

“No, I don’t think so; no I’m sure not.” She started to quiet down. I could almost see her thinking. “Has anyone searched your quarters?” she asked.

“I don’t think so; you’ve seen it though, I wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell.”

I thought about the two security officers I had seen lurking about.

There was someone waiting for me in the diner when I came on shift tonight. I can’t say I was glad to see her.

“Officer Johns,” I said with feigned delight, “when did they let you out of your cage?”

“Crewman Ryan,” she responded, ignoring my jab, “I’d like a word with you.”

“You want to talk? That’s not your style, Johns; I took you for more of a ‘hit from behind ask questions later’ type”

“Oh I’m not here to ask questions Ryan. I’m here to explain a few things.”

I took the seat across from her, reluctantly. I made sure the table, which was secured to the floor, was between us.

“Let me cut right to the point – the beating? That was only the beginning.” She was casual, cold, not like the hot tempered Johns who had ambushed me in my quarters. “You made a fool of me, then ratted me out. You made what was between us public. Your life on board this ship is about to take a turn.”

I just sat, poker faced, listening to her threats.

“What, no smart ass come backs? Ryan, that’s so unlike you.” She leaned back in her chair and paused. “How’s your girl friend by the way; Crewman Natsuko?”

“My personal life is none of your business.” I replied , trying to hold back my anger.

“I’m making everything you do my business, Ryan. Aren’t you hearing me? Like your friend, Lisa; runs this diner? There have been complaints about the cleanliness of the place– perhaps more frequent health inspections are in order.”

Now I was pissed. I had the idea, and I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of threatening my friends. As I started to walk away, she pushed a chair into my legs. Before I could react, she had her hand on my neck and pounded my face into the table. There was no one else in the diner by then; no one to witness her attack. I knew better than to hit a colonial security officer. I just laid there and bled.

“I’m not done with you yet, Ryan. I’ll be around, watching; and waiting.” She let me up from the table.

“By the way, the food here is pretty good,” she said as she walked away, “I’ll tell a few of my closest friends.”

“How did this psycho bitch ever make the crew? What about the psych screens?” Carl was understandably upset when he found out about Johns. We all were. We were sitting in his quarters: me, Julia, and of course Carl; trying to determine our options before things got out of hand.

“Despite what the public was told, not everyone on this boat is cream of the crop,” Julia answered, looking at me nervously. “Her mother is on the Martian Council. I heard from a guy on two that Johns got into some trouble a while back; Mommy must have seen the colony ship as a way to offload her troubled offspring.”

“Well thank you Mother Johns. Julia, can you get any surveillance cameras? Small ones we can install in our quarters; try to catch them in the act?” It was the only idea I had.

“I can, but do you really think Johns is that dumb?”

“Probably not; she’s psycho, but not dumb. Still, it won’t hurt to know for sure.” Carl replied. “How many friends do you think she has working with her?”

“Well we know of at least two, but if mommy has connections, daughter my attract some political wanna bees, so we can’t be sure.”

We discussed simply reporting the threats to her superiors, but we weren’t exactly on the Colonial Security most trusted list. True to her word, Johns had already reported the Messa Mesa to the health inspector, and Lisa had to come in over the weekend for the inspection. She was not happy. I dare not tell her there could be more trouble down the road. Julia’s technical team was called in for an impromptu security audit, and Carl was questioned about reports of contraband spirits on level four.

Just two months into an eighteen month trip, and I’d already managed to get myself beaten, broke, and on the wrong side of a bully. Dad would be so proud.