Free Captain Cosette by R. Bruce Sundrud

DOMINIC PARKS FSMD.  She assumed his last name was not “FSMD,” so she shook his hand firmly and said, “I’m fine, Doctor Parks, but the food is bland.”
    He sat down beside her.  “You’re getting more perceptive.  I’m afraid there’s not much I can do about the food.”  He crossed his legs and interlaced his fingers.  “Seriously, how do things feel to you?  There’s no way I can tell by looking at your vital signs.”
    She blew out her breath while she thought.  “I can’t remember names.  I think you’ve been in here before, but I cheated and I read your name tag.”
    “ I know.”
    She glanced around the room.  “I’m on a space station, and I’m in the infirmary because I got an overload from a teaching machine.” 
    “ That’s right.”
    “ If you wanted me to assemble an E7 field rifle, I could do it.”
    He laughed.  She liked Doctor Parks.  He had a sense of humor.
    “And your name is…”
    She snuck a glance at the electronic chart lying on the small table beside her bed.  “Cosette de Nicholas.”
    “ Ah.  You cheated again.”
    She rolled her eyes.  “I know who I am, I just can’t remember my name.”
    “ You seem to be keeping your bearings pretty well.  We haven’t found you wandering the halls recently.”
    “ Did I do that?  Wander?”
    He nodded.  “Don’t be concerned.  You’ve come a long way.  You can now get yourself down to the exercise room and back, take care of yourself, feed yourself.  I think you’re making excellent progress.”
    “ When will I start remembering names?”
    “ In time.  There is so much knowledge stacked in your brain that you don’t have much room for long-term memories, and names are more complex than you think.  They carry images and history with them, or they would just be meaningless….”
    Before he could finish, a middle-aged man in dress uniform, black with gold trim and several pins over his shirt pocket, stepped into the room.  The doctor quickly stood.  “Lieutenant Garale.”
    “ Doctor,” acknowledged Lieutenant Garale with a nod.  He was trim, lithe, and his dark hair was carefully groomed.  His eyes were firm, his posture military.  “This is Cadet Cosette de Nicholas?”
    “ Yes, this is she.  I don’t think she has been sworn in yet; she was in basic training when the Alliance rebels overran the base.”
    “ Not a problem.  I’m pleased to meet you, Cadet Nicholas.  That was an unfortunate accident you had, and I’m glad to see you are recovering.  I understand you’re physically fit.  Are you up to doing some work?”
    “ I guess so.” 
    If you need some rifles assembled .
    “ Is that necessary?” asked the doctor.
    “ We’re short on personnel; Central Command hasn’t decided whether to send the men necessary to pacify the planet.”   He turned his attention back to Cosette.  “The equipment in our bays hasn’t been serviced since it was uploaded from the last planet, and the cadet we have available is doing two other assignments already.  Do you have any work uniforms?”
    She looked at the doctor.  “Do I?”
    “ I’ll have the staff bring you some this afternoon.”  The doctor made a note.
    “ Doctor,” said the Lieutenant, “Major Selkrigg wants to know if she can be shifted to the crew quarters and receive an assignment.  It would free up some staff.”
    “ I don’t know.  She’s learned how to take care of herself, but…”
    The lieutenant looked directly at her.  “What’s your assessment, cadet?  Can you handle yourself without assistance?”
    Can I ? 
    “ I suppose so.”
    The doctor’s lips thinned; she must have given the wrong answer.
    “ Don’t worry, doctor,” said Garale.  “You know that sensitive areas are sensor keyed, and she can’t wander off the station into outer space.  You can check up on her during her down times.”
    The doctor shrugged, obviously outranked.  “Very well.  Cosette, I’ll let Rasora know