Free Ep.#4 - "Freedom's Dawn" (The Frontiers Saga) by Ryk Brown Page A

as well,” Enrique commented.
    The ensign looked at him quizzically as he tried unsuccessfully to discern his meaning. “It isn’t my military,” he corrected.
    Ensign Willard stepped up to the bank of machines. There appeared to be four distinct stations, each appearing identical to the others. “These are the primary food dispensers,” he explained. “You simply select what you want to eat, and it will be provided through these compartments on the bottom. The red door is for hot items, the orange for room temperature items, and the blue for cold items.”
    Enrique looked at the instructions on the screen. “These are all in Takaran.”
    “Of course,” the ensign answered. “We were all required to learn the Takaran language.”
    “Allow me,” Marcus offered as he pushed Enrique aside and stepped up to the dispenser.
    “You read Takaran?” Ensign Willard asked, somewhat surprised.
    “Since I was five,” he answered, as if it had been a stupid question. “Besides,” he added, “after dining with these people for a few days, I think I have a pretty good idea what they like to eat.”
    “Who says we like what we’ve been eating lately?” Enrique corrected.
    Marcus navigated through several menus, after which the display began to show pictures. After scrolling through several pictures of complete meals, he stopped on one. “Whattaya think?” he asked Enrique and the others.
    Enrique and Sergeant Weatherly both squeezed in on either side of Marcus to get a better look at the displayed image. It appeared to be some kind of cooked red meat, covered in a light brown sauce. Alongside it was a pale green vegetable that looked something like green beans, but with an abnormal hue.
    “What is it?” Weatherly asked.
    “It’s similar to what I believe you people call beef ,” Marcus told them.
    “All right then,” Enrique declared. “Order us up some.”
    Marcus selected the item. The machine made a few faint noises and a half minute later both the hot and cold doors opened at waist level. Marcus pulled a glass of cold water from the cold door, and a meal tray containing the same food that had appeared on the display. “There ya go,” he said, handing the food and drink to Enrique. “Food fit for a king.”
    “No,” Ensign Willard corrected, “not in here. But maybe in the officers’ mess.”
    Enrique took the food from Marcus, sniffing the entree. “Smells edible. Order up one for everyone.”
    “What do I look like, a waiter?”
    “More so than a pilot,” Enrique quipped. “Are you hungry?” he asked Ensign Willard.
    “Actually, yes.”
    “Remove his restraints,” Enrique instructed the sergeant.
    Sergeant Weatherly pulled the remote out of his pocket, held it against the metallic cuffs encircling the ensign’s hands, and pressed the unlock button. The Takaran restraining devices opened simultaneously. He plucked them from the young ensign’s hands and stuck them into the utility pocket on his thigh armor.
    “Thank you,” the ensign said, rubbing his wrists.
    “Least we could do, considering you’re feeding us.”
    The ensign took the food and drink from Enrique, a puzzled look on his face.
    “Go ahead, have a seat,” Enrique told him as Marcus handed him another plate of food and a glass of water.
    Ensign Willard took the food and sat down at the nearest table, with Enrique sitting down across from him. He immediately began shoveling the food into his mouth. He had not eaten since before they had arrived in his home system more than eight hours ago. After a few bites, he noticed that Enrique was watching him intently, and had not taken a single bite of his own meal. “You are not hungry?”
    “No, I’m hungry all right.”
    A wave of understanding washed across the ensign’s face. “When dining with your enemy, always let him dine first,” he said with a smile.
    “Something like that,” Enrique answered, also smiling.
    Ensign Willard continued eating. “I assure you, sir;