The Day After
01 Jun 2020Maggie Oz
Few nights are as dark and lonely as the first that follows trauma. Trapped and alone, no matter how many people surround you.
As the distractions of the day dwindle to nighttime stillness, the daemons come out to play.
I lay on my bed, huddled far to one side, not touching Jamie, nor wanting to be touched.
I stared into the blackness and the scene rolled over and over again, each time I did what I should have, only to fail and repeat.
Jamie must have had an inkling. He just lay near, no demands, no embrace, just there, if needed.
I ran my finger over my engagement ring, now back on my hand.
I don't deserve a man such as he .... I'm just a slut, I gave in I was going to let him do as he pleased!
And on it went, over and over.
Some time around the witching hour, I placed a single finger on Jamie's open hand, his reflex closed gently around it and I snoozed.
When I awoke the next morning, late-ish, Jamie was gone.
I rose and showered but as I finished Jamie came back into the bedroom.
"You should be at work?" I said half telling half questioning
"I took a personal day, " he said with a little shrug and tentative smile, "I went to the chemist, got this" he held up a tub of ointment "It's a skin regenerist, should have that .. bite .. fixed up in an hour or so"
"Oh.. thank you, " I replied as he handed it to me, I fumbled with the lid.
"Would you like me to help?"
I handed it back to him with a nod.
"Sit on the bed if you like" to which I sat and then reclined back on the bed, leaving room for him to sit by me.
He sat and put some of the lotion on his fingers, "Would you like to rest your head on my hand?"
I nodded again and nestled into his huge hand, his long fingers and spacious palm easily cupped the right side of my face, while he applied the lotion to the raw side with a delicate gentleness.
His touch was like a pin to a balloon. I felt the tension flow out of me.
"Jamie," I said quietly looking into his eyes and he into mine, "He tried to rape me."
Jamie just nodded
"You knew?" I asked flatly
"No. But DAC sent me a message, told me you were highly stressed and I had a chat to Rick and he filled me in on what he knew. It was 2 plus 2 after that"
"I made them swear not to tell you"
"They both care about you too much to do that"
"What will I do about the Senator?"
"He's not really important. I think you should focus on yourself for now. That bastard isn't going anywhere soon"
"He said he'd send you to Thargoid space"
Jamie laughed "I'd like to see him try, he doesn't have half the sway he thinks he does. He's a bully Maggie, he gets his kicks by holding power over people, trying to make them squirm."
I just nodded, happy to have told someone.
Jamie made us breakfast and over that, I told him the whole story.
Like a champ, he didn't get upset or try to tell me what to do or feel, he just listened.
"I need to get away for a bit" I announced
"Sure Mags, whatever you need to do, you go I can look after things here," said James
I needed to get away and clear my head, so I hit the trading floor. I talked to some of the local factions and a few had some bulk cargo work on offer.
Nothing I like more than getting a contract to find and collect a list. So off I went.
I made a complete bollocks of the launch, smacked a stanchion, clipped another ship on the way out.
I GOT A FINE! , A bloody fine. I've never had one before and in my own station and all!
Focussing on my flying brought me some clarity and a plan was forming as I flew back and forth, gathering, Tobaccos, Wines, Argo Treatments, some Slaves and other odds and sods.
The days work made for some tasty profits and I noticed my PilotsFed ranking was closing in on "Elite".
It would be nice to get my 3rd Elite in my 3rd century!
When I got home, Roy was there.
"Hello Maggie" he said with a note of concern
"Hello Roy' I said, a little cooly.
"I'm sorry about all this with the Senator"
"Did you know about him? I get the feeling I'm not the first"
"Would I have let you walk into that if I did?"
"No, I suppose not"
"Thing is Maggie, I think you can bring him to account"
"An Imperial Senator? Hardly, what chance have I got against that?"
"None, possibly less. But. If there is one thing Senators thrive on, it's taking down other Senators.
Yes, they are all powerful, but it's very fragile power. If their patrons and consuls withdraw support they can collapse and be out of office overnight.
The whole support mechanism is highly dependent on public opinion"
"What makes you think the others will jump on board if I raise this?"
"Because it's Sexual Assault. If it was drunkenness, fiddling the books or nepotism, you wouldn't have a chance as they've all done a bit of that from time to time so it wouldn't pay to be pointing fingers. Sexual Assault though, well that's a whole other ball game. Everyone finds it appalling, from the common folk to the Emperor. I think if this gets raised, Senator Thornholt will find himself very much a pariah."
"I'm really not sure Roy, the things he said he'd do"
"If you make those threats public though, he can't very well go through with them, can he? And don't forget Maggie, you have some powerful media cred at the moment. You heard that newshound yesterday, your marriage to Jamie is THE society rumour of the season, imagine if you put it out there that a Senator was going to ruin all that by feeding Jamie to the Thargoids?"
"I need to think about this, once we start there's no going back"
"Yes of course, but don't dally. Every day you leave it lessens your credibility"
To be honest I'd already decided.
What could the Senator really do if I make his threats public? Very little
What damage would a smear campaign do to me? Nothing, it's not like I want fame or notoriety.
I walked around the gardens for a while and chatted with Pris about it all, she was horrified at the ordeal but was 100% on going public.
"DAC?" I said when I had returned to the Palace.
"Yes Madam?"
"Can you please send a message to the Empire Today Society News Editor offering them an exclusive interview on my marriage to Jamie"
".... Yes ... Madam "
"Is everything OK DAC?"
"Yes Madam ..... I had just thought you would be revealing yesterday's incident"
"Oh I will be DAC , this is just to set the stage"
"YES Madam"
-Was that enthusiasm? -