Not Babi

“I am your Captain and if I say stop talking, you stop!”
Eve squeaks into silence, still shaking with her tears.
“You stop, and if I say you get off of my ship? You get off. Whether you smear my name or not afterwards is your problem, not mine, especially when people figure you out, and I’m sure they will one day. You know why? Because this ‘I can do both’ stuff you’ve got going on? If you’re as much a woman as I am a man, there ain’t no way that’s good for you.”
“It’s the only way you’d let me stay. I thought… I hoped by the time I… I hoped I’d’ve proved my value. I hoped you’d look at me and say it’s ok that you're a woman, Babi, you can stay.”
Maran pauses in surprise, but he powers on, “Five days from now, you're gone. You’re not special to me, and you’re definitely not a babi.”
“I’m… not?”
Maran wants to throw something at her. “No, you’re not a babi. For fuck’s sake! You’re Eve. Find a therapist for your delusions of grandeur, when you get home. It’ll help with the transition to civilian life.”