Page 22 of Duty and Desire

One by one, the systems stabilized. The breach was closing, the malware being purged from their networks. Ros barely dared to breathe as she watched the progress bar creep toward completion, every second feeling like a lifetime.

“General Carson,” a voice broke through the tension, “the breach has been contained. All systems are back online.”

Ros's body sagged with the release of tension. She exhaled a long, shaky breath, the knot in her chest loosening as the reality of their victory set in.

They had done it. Scarlett had done it.

Scarlett walked the length of Fort Independence, her boots striking the ground with a steady rhythm, but something was off. Each step she took seemed to echo louder than usual,accompanied by the subtle yet unmistakable shift in the atmosphere as she entered various rooms across the base.

In the mess hall, she paused to grab a quick bite, her mind still buzzing from the intensity of the morning’s events. She noticed a few glances in her direction. Nothing unusual at first—she was an officer, after all—but when the conversations around her started to fade into uncomfortable silence, she felt a prickle of unease. A couple soldiers at the far end of the room exchanged hurried whispers before turning their attention back to their trays, avoiding her gaze. Scarlett furrowed her brow but shrugged it off, assuming they were simply discussing the recent cyberattack.

Later, as she entered the communications center, the effect was more pronounced. The room, usually buzzing with activity, seemed to stutter to a halt the moment she stepped inside. Technicians and junior officers stopped what they were doing, their eyes flicking toward her before quickly darting away. A few hastily turned their backs, pretending to be absorbed in their work. The uneasy quiet that followed her was almost tangible, like a dark cloud creeping in her wake. Scarlett’s heart pounded. She forced herself to keep her expression neutral, but her mind raced with possibilities. The base was a close-knit environment, and while professionalism was paramount, rumors had a way of spreading like wildfire.

What was it now? Her performance during the breach? Doubts about her ability to handle the pressure? Her secret dalliance with the general?

Her answer came soon enough. As she exited the communications center, a young lieutenant—one of her junior officers—approached her, glancing around nervously before speaking in a low voice.

“Captain Bennett,” he began, his tone hesitant, “I think you should know…people are talking.”

Scarlett’s stomach tightened. “Talking about what?”

The lieutenant shifted uncomfortably, clearly wishing he could be anywhere else. “It’s…well, some of the soldiers, they’ve noticed that you’ve been leaving General Carson’s quarters early in the morning. More than once.”

The air seemed to grow colder around Scarlett as the words hit her. She felt a chill run down her spine, her mouth going dry. Rumors. Of course. She tried to keep her expression calm, but inside, panic began to creep in.

How long had this been going on? How many people had noticed? And what were they saying?

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” she managed to reply, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “I appreciate the heads-up.”

The lieutenant nodded quickly, clearly relieved that she wasn’t angry, and walked off, leaving Scarlett standing alone in the corridor. She stared at the wall in front of her, her mind racing. This was bad—worse than she’d feared. Rumors like this could destroy careers. She couldn’t let this go on any longer. Scarlett knew she had to confront Ros to figure out what they were going to do. As much as she hated it, they needed to face this head-on.

That evening, Scarlett made her way to Ros’s office, her steps heavy with dread. The corridors were quieter now, the base settling into the evening routine, but the tension she felt earlier hadn’t dissipated. If anything, it was worse.

As she approached Ros’s office, Scarlett noticed two officers standing a short distance away, their conversation falling silent as she drew near. They didn’t bother hiding their curiosity; one of them even gave a pointed look toward Ros’s door beforeglancing back at Scarlett. They were watching her, waiting to see what she would do. It wasn’t just whispers anymore; they were openly tracking her movements, looking for confirmation of the rumors. She wasn’t surprised. After learning about the gossip, she’d known any time they spent together would be eagerly observed. Her even being alone with Ros was a risk for the both of them. It wasn’t just her own career on the line if they got caught. Ros had worked her whole life to get where she was now. Scarlett wasn’t going to let a rumor trash all that hard work. They would have to be discreet. No more being alone in the briefing room, no more lingering glances. She wasn’t going to let some petty gossip ruin this for the both of them. Scarlett clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. This couldn’t continue. She pushed open the door to Ros’s office without hesitation, closing it firmly behind her. The sight of Ros sitting behind her desk brought a brief moment of comfort, but it was quickly overshadowed by the reality of their situation.

Ros looked up, surprise flashing across her face before it was replaced by concern. She could tell immediately that something was wrong.

“Scarlett? What’s going on?”

Scarlett took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Ros's with a mixture of determination and fear. “We need to talk,” she said, her voice steady but laced with tension. “There are rumors going around—about us. They’re saying I’ve been seen leaving your quarters early in the morning.”

Ros's expression darkened, and she leaned back in her chair, her jaw tightening. The weight of the situation pressed down on both of them, the room suddenly feeling too small, too suffocating.

“I’ve noticed,” Ros said quietly, her voice carrying the same tension Scarlett felt. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but it seems we’re out of time. We always knew this was a risk.” Hervoice was steady but laced with concern. “But we’ve got to face the facts. If people are already talking, it’s only a matter of time before someone takes this up the chain.”

Scarlett’s heart pounded , but she refused to back down. “Ros, I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you. We’ve faced worse threats than gossip, and we can handle this too.”

Ros studied Scarlett’s face, seeing the resolve in her eyes. There was a moment of silence as she weighed the options and risks. Ending their relationship would be the safe, logical choice. But the thought of losing Scarlett, of turning their connection into just another casualty of military life, was unbearable.

“Then we have to be careful,” Ros finally said, her voice firm but soft. “No more slipping out in the early hours. No more risky meetings. We have to keep this under wraps, and that means we don’t let anyone see us together outside of a professional setting.”

Scarlett nodded, relief washing over her. The thought of ending things had terrified her more than any battle she’d ever faced. But hearing Ros suggest a way forward gave her hope.

“I can do that,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “Whatever it takes.”

Ros reached out, taking Scarlett’s hand in hers, the contact sending a warm, reassuring current through her. “We’ll have to be smart about this. We can’t give anyone a reason to suspect anything. But we’ll find a way to make this work.”

Scarlett squeezed Ros's hand, a small smile playing on her lips despite the gravity of the situation. “We always do.”