“We’ll figure it out. Just as soon as you're ready to get back into a healing chamber…”
“No, thank you. I’ve done that — it didn’t work. Maybe I’ll see if there’s a different type of medication to try.”
“Okay, sounds good. Just let me know what I can do to help if you need me,” Vivian offered, knowing that no one could force any of these women to do something they weren’t ready to do. It was a control thing. They had to make their own way in their own time, just as she had.
“You meeting anyone for breakfast?” Vivian asked.
“Nope, just me,” Rosie answered.
“Want to eat with us?” Vivian invited.
“You know what? Yes, I’d love to.”
“Perfect!”
Together both women chose their meals, then filled a plate for Kitty. Cook gave him his bone, and they went to Vivian’s usual table. Shortly thereafter, Vivian’s three bodyguards took the table next to them.
“Do they always follow you around?” Rosie asked.
Vivian looked up from dumping the Cruestaci version of ketchup onto her plate full of their version of hash browned potatoes, and looked at Rosie with a confused expression.
Rosie realized that Vivian wasn’t sure what she was talking about. “Them, the bodyguards?” she asked, indicating the big males with a wave of her hand.
“Oh, them! Yes, pretty much. And while I minded it at first, I’d be kinda lonely without them now.”
Rosie wasn’t a stupid woman and had noticed the chain Vivian wore like jewelry and the chain shaped scars on some of their faces.
“Did you do that? To their faces?” Rosie asked.
Vivian looked over at her bodyguards, her friends… no, that was wrong. Her family. They were her family. Zahn, Kail and Asl were with her today. Kail and Zahn wore her chain marks across their faces. “Yeah. I did,” Vivian admitted softly. “I didn’t know they were there to rescue me. I thought they just…”
“Wanted what the other males wanted?” Rosie supplied.
“Yeah. I feel really bad about it now, but it’s done. And while they could go into the healing chamber and have the scars removed, they refuse.”
“We wear your marks with pride, Sirena,” Zahn said proudly from the next table.
“Yes, we do,” Kail agreed.
Rosie watched the interaction between the males sworn to protect Vivian, and realized they were actually friends, it wasn’t just an assignment.
“I hope to be happy like you are one day,” Rosie confided. She looked over toward Synclare who'd just said the same thing. “We all do.”
“You will be,” Vivian assured her. “Love did it. And you’ve already got one particular light-green male following you around.”
“Huh? Oh, Rokai? I don’t even know where he is. I couldn’t find him last night, and he’s nowhere to be found this morning.”
“He’ll turn up.”
“I don’t know…” Rosie answered.
“I do. And I know you’ll be happy. You’re strong like I am.”
“I don’t feel very strong. I feel… confused.”
“Would you like to hear my story? I don’t mind telling you. Maybe it will help you realize there is life after all the shit,” Vivian said, popping a bite of food into her mouth.
Rosie watched Vivian closely for a moment. Then she decided she wanted to know. “Yes, if you feel you can share it, I’d like to know that I wasn’t the only one. I’d like to know how you overcame it.”
So Vivian started at the beginning. She told her all about her family, her Earth family, and how she was taken from them. How she came to be Sirena of Cruestace, and all that happened in between.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rosie spent her morning exploring the ship. She’d found the exercise room, the library, the training center for the warriors on board. Of course, the dance club that Vivian had founded, and so many other things to entertain her. But Rokai was nowhere to be found. He was obviously holed up somewhere. And where and with whom, she really didn’t want to know.
Who was she kidding? Of course, she wanted to know. And wanted to kick some serious alien woman ass, too! Rosie had been to visit each of the other women she’d been rescued with, under the guise of checking on them. But in actuality, she was checking to see if Rokai was with any of them. To her relief, he wasn’t. So that meant, an alien female, or two, or three. And she was not above kicking several females’ asses, no matter where they were from, if they were messing with her man, ‘er male, or whatever the hell, he was hers. She’d decided. Until she decided otherwise, he was hers. She’d not finished her game with him, and until she did, he was off limits — the bastard. Now all she had to do was find him, whip some ass, and show him exactly where he was going to stay until she decided it was time to go home, and she was done playing. There, plan made, problem solved.
She wandered back into the commissary and stood there, hands on her hips, obviously looking for someone. “Damnit!” she muttered under her breath.
“May I be of service, female?” a deep male’s voice asked from behind her.
Rosie turned and faced a yellow-skinned male. His skin was mottled, from a dark yellow to a faded, pale, almost white where the mottles were prominent on his flesh. He had eerie yellow eyes that were fringed in white lashes. She angled her head to the side, looking directly into his eyes. They were beautiful, almost hypnotic in an eerie kind of way.
“You have really unusual eyes.”
“Thank you, I think,” he responded.
“They’re really pretty.”
“Then definitely, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You were cursing. May I help in some way?”
“Not unless you know the arrogant, pain-in-the-ass, braids-should-be-on-a-woman bastard that’s making me curse, then no. Unfortunately you can’t, but I appreciate the offer.”
“I see,” he answered.
“Going to sit with some friends. Have a good lunch, uhhh, what is your name?” Rosie asked.
“I am Kron. Enjoy your lunch, and fret not, your Rokai ahl shall return soon.”
Rosie had already started to walk away. She froze in place at the mention of Rokai ahl’s name. Slowly she turned to face Kron again. “What did you say?”
Kron stood where he’d been originally, smiling at her. “I said, your Rokai ahl will return soon.”
“He’s gone?” she asked.
“He is. But, it was an unavoidable mission. In fact, he was given a Cruestaci Battle Cruiser for his mission. He is not lost in the night, nor is he avoiding you. He shall return. I give you my word.”
“Are you sure?” Rosie asked.
“I am. His mission was sudden, and there was no other who could carry it out. But you were on his mind when he left, and I have no doubt he will return.”
Rosie thought about it, her forehead furrowed as she went over it in her head. Why the hell didn’t he just say so before running off? He could have told her he was going on a mission.
“I believe that he was as surprised as you are to learn a mission needed his attention. I apologize for being remiss in advising you of his absence.”
“Were you supposed to tell me?” Rosie asked.
Kron thought about it. If he said yes, he wouldn’t be lying, because in actuality, he probably should have told her. He’d been watching over her from a distance since Commander Tel Mo’ Kok had called him out on helping Rokai take possession of the cruiser. He’d confessed to both Kol and to Commander Tel Mo’ Kok which female was Rokai’s, and he’d been assigned to watch over her until Rokai returned. He was aware that she inferred that Rokai asked him to tell her, but she didn’t speak the exact words, so he chose to ignore the inference. “Yes, I should have told you earlier. My sincere apologies. I became distracted with work and only just now remembered.”
Rosie smiled. Her entire face relaxing, her beautiful, full lips curving into a cupid’s bow. “It’s okay. Thank yo
u so much for telling me. I was beginning to worry.”
“Worry not, female. He shall return.”
“Thank you, Kron.”
Rosie began to walk away, then had a thought. “Kron!” she called to the male still standing there watching her walk away.
“Yes?”
“Is it dangerous? I mean, for him? You know?” Rosie asked.
Kron laughed lightly. “It is very dangerous. But not for him. He’s the infamous Rokai ahl. It is those he comes in contact with that should be frightened. Not Rokai.”
Rosie smiled even brighter. “Yes, you’re right. He’s Rokai ahl. Thanks again, Kron.”
“You are most welcome, little female.”
Kron waited until she’d chosen her food and taken a seat with the other females, before he got his own meal and sat on the other side of the room close to the entrance. He pretended he wasn’t observing her, and she very easily forgot he was there.
Movement at the table Rosie was sitting at caught his eye, and he watched curiously as General Lo’San approached the table with a plate in his hand.
Then Lo’ San made his way around the table offering whatever was on the plate to each of the females. It looked to Kron like it was a selection of sweets, but he was some distance away so it was hard to be sure. Halfway around the table, Lo’ San took one of the selections off the plate and held it aloft as he continued to offer the remainder of the items to the table of females. Finally, having offered to all of them, and still having a couple of items on the plate, he approached one of the females. The one with silver strands in her hair and offered her the item in his hand. The female smiled at him and looked down at her hands. Lo’ San offered it again, and shyly, almost reluctantly, the female reached out and took it from him. She raised her face to Lo’ San then and smiled at him brilliantly. The blue of her eyes was so intense Kron could easily see the color from across the room. She spoke a few words to Lo’ San, who bowed to her, then turned and left her with her friends to enjoy the treat he’d gifted her.
The happiness on Lo’ San’s face was enough to show anyone with any brain that another of their crew would soon find himself mated if the female of his attentions was at all willing.
General Lo’ San walked patiently through the serving line in the commissary. It didn’t matter how long he waited, his attentions were for the female up ahead of him. There were several in line, but the one whose darker brown hair was accented with the shining silver and blonde strands throughout was the one he could not look away from. He’d been taken with her since she’d first been brought aboard. But she wasn’t around the ship often as the one called Rosalita had been. And Rosalita, as it turned out was Rokai’s, or at least was thought to be. But it didn’t matter. He only had eyes for the same one he’d chosen that first night they’d been rescued. His heart had hurt at the condition she’d been found in, the condition they’d all been found in.
He listened as she asked for the small sweet white cakes they usually had here at lunch time. He smiled, they were his favorite, too. In fact, he knew that Cook saved several for him each day he made them. The women all chose their sweet to go with their meal, then made their way to their table. He knew that the female he favored did not choose a sweet for after her meal.
When it was his turn to choose his sweets, Cook hurried to the kitchen. “General! I have your cakes in the back. I’ll be only a moment.” Cook quickly returned with four of the small white cakes. Lo’ San placed two on his plate and left two on the plate Cook had them on originally, then placed several other sweets on the plate and took it with his own plate to sit and have his meal. As he usually did, he chose a place that allowed him to watch the female without her knowing he was watching her.
Once he finished his meal, including his two cakes, he rose from his place and lifted the plate with all the sweets into his hand. His approach to the table where the object of his affection sat was the most heart-pounding, terrifying thing he’d ever done. He was afraid she’d reject him, but at the same time exhilarated to finally be about to speak to her. He hoped he didn’t frighten her. He knew they may need extra time to acclimate to males of any species at all, much less those that were foreign to them. But still, he couldn’t help but hope that she’d choose him eventually, the way he’d chosen her. He approached her table and introduced himself.
“Females, I wish you a happy day. I am General Lo’ San of Command Warship 1. I am first in command under Commander Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok. I bid you welcome to our home.”
Two females completely ignored him, staring at the table, and he could smell the fear coming off them. Two others smiled at him and murmured thanks. His female, the one with the silver and white strands mixed into her dark hair, offered him a brilliant smile.
“I have brought sweet cakes and treats for you,” he said as he began to walk around the table slowly, holding the plate out before each of them, and patiently waiting for each of them to choose one. His female indicated he should offer to the others first, so he did since it was what she wished. One of the girls who’d thanked him chose one of the white cakes, leaving only one more. He’d planned for his female to have at least one of the white cakes, so he very adeptly plucked the last one from the plate with his right hand and held it aloft as he offered the remaining treats to the rest of the women. When he found himself once again beside his female, he held the cake out for her to take from him.
“Cook makes me extras of these. He knows they’re my favorite, and I’m often late to lunch, so he keeps them in the back for me. I would be very pleased if you would take this last one.”
Synclare looked at the cake in his outstretched hand and smiled demurely, looking down at her own hands. “I couldn’t take your last cake.”
“Of course you can. I’ve already had two. It would please me greatly if you would take it and enjoy it. I saw you asking for them when I waited in line. I want you to have it.”
He held the cake out, even closer to Synclare. “Please,” he said.
Synclare reached out and took the cake from him, raised her face to his and offered him the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. “Thank you,” she said, with her bright blue eyes sparkling as brightly as her smile.
“You are most welcome…” he hesitated, waiting for her to fill in her name. If she even remembered it, please let her remember it, he thought.
“Synclare. My name is Synclare.”
“You are most welcome, Sink lar. May it bring you as much joy as looking on your beauty brings me.” Lo’ San performed a perfect little bow to Synclare, turned gracefully and left her to enjoy her sweet cake, smiling bigger with every step he took.
His female wasn’t afraid of him. She’d taken his offered gift, and she’d willfully given him her name. Sink lar. His female was named Sink lar, and she was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen of any species, in any world.
Chapter 22
Synclare watched General Lo’ San gracefully bow to her, then exit the commissary. Every move he made was graceful, measured, relaxed, yet perfectly timed. He moved like a feline, like a big cat — a tiger or a lion - like back on Earth. He was a beautiful male. His skin was a pale, pale grey, almost silvery in tone, but no metallic qualities to it. His hair, on the other hand, was the color of pure, driven snow. It was white and worn shorn and very close to the scalp, like an active member Marine might wear it back home. His eyes were a soft grey, framed by lashes of a slightly darker color. He was tall like the other males here, but not quite so muscle bound. He had muscles, and was very well defined, so much so that it was impossible to ignore. You could see them working beneath his clothes as he moved, but he was not so big he looked like he might pop. In short, he was perfect. And he’d given her his last cake.
She watched him go, smiling at the way he said her name — Sink Lar. As though it was some foreign name. Then she smiled even bigger. To him it was foreign.
“Damn girl! Synclare! He’s hot!” Rosie said, watching him
go.
“He is. And he’s a General! If I understood him correctly, he answers only to the Commander of this ship,” Betsy added. Betsy was one of the girls who rarely spoke.
“I think you’re right, that’s what I understood, too,” Synclare agreed.
“Do you think you could get him to take us all home?” Betsy asked.
“I…” Synclare started to answer, but didn’t know exactly what to say. She’d not decided she wanted to go home. She had no idea what would be waiting for her when she got there, if anything would. And frankly, she was pretty sure she was ready to consider a different life, a life up here among these people. They’d been kind to her, and home didn’t necessarily always mean happiness.
“Don’t you want to go home?” Betsy pressed.
“I don’t know,” Synclare answered honestly.
“There’s danger up here. I just want to go home,” Betsy said, her eyes filling with tears.
“And you will if that’s what you want. I’m just not sure it’s what I want. There’s danger everywhere, and these people aren’t responsible for hurting us, they freed us. I was thinking, I might see if I can find a job with them, and stay here.”
“What about your people back home?” Rosie asked.
“I’m sure by the end of the first week, they’d already written me off. I’m more than sure there’s nothing to go home for, but the same reason I was out alone on a night that got me taken to begin with.”
“I hear ya, girl. I’m considering staying, too. Or at the very least making a trip home to make sure all my peeps are good, then right back out here somewhere,” Rosie said.
Betsy sat for a moment, looking at Synclare and Rosie as if she just didn’t understand them at all. “Do you think you could at least ask him for us?” she finally asked Synclare.
“The Commander said he’d make arrangements for us as soon as he could. There are a lot of details to see to,” Synclare reminded them.
“It’s taking so long, though,” Betsy commented, placing her shaking hands into her lap. The poor girl had been broken, and Synclare wondered if she’d ever be okay or not. Most likely not.
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