“Which is your female, Rokai?” Quin asked, already knowing it was the curvy, dark-haired one he’d met in medical.
Rokai smiled. His eyes taking on a softer appearance, which completely caught Zha Quin off guard. “Rosalita. The strongest of them all. The most beautiful — she is mine.” The word mine was growled.
Zha Quin looked down at the small, white jar in his hand, then up at Rokai. “I will see that she gets it.”
Rokai inclined his head, but said nothing more. He returned to his spot on the floor, and Zha Quin resumed his stalk toward medical.
Before Quin even made his way all the way up the hallway lined with holding cells, Missy spoke. “Commander — Sovereign Zha Tahl and Sovereigna Eula are approaching Command Warship 1. Docking permissions have been granted.”
“Wonderful! Mommy’s coming for a visit!” Rokai piped up from his cell.
‘Wonderful indeed,’ Quin thought, ‘it’s all I need.’
He allowed an irritated rumble to leave his chest when he heard Rokai’s voice carrying after him as he retreated from the holding cells.
“Seems to me, perhaps you should make enough changes to be assured you are aware of all goings-on on your ship, Sire.” The ‘Sire’ was delivered with a dripping amount of resentment.
The moment of trust Rokai had given him, to deliver the jar of whatever it was to the woman Rokai had obviously claimed as his own, was all he was going to get. The bitter, resentful male his brother had turned into many, many years ago was apparently still alive and well. But, there was hope. Rokai had claimed a female, and he had actually managed to speak civilly to Zha Quin when asking him to deliver the small jar. There were changes afoot, small changes, but there was definitely hope.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Gaishon stood directly beside the youngest female he and Rokai had rescued, his blade drawn and at the ready. If the healer made a move the female didn’t approve of, Gaishon would force the male to back off, or worse, if he resisted. Gaishon’s eyes wandered over to the boy who sat across the room, watching all the goings on with huge, understanding eyes.
The healer, using a handheld reader to scan the female, glanced at Gaishon, then back to his patient. “You do not need that blade, Warrior. I have no intention of harming this female.”
“Good, then I will only stand here and hold it.”
“Warrior, I have administered to these females much longer than you have been aware of them. You have no need to hold the dagger on me.”
“Until I’m assured of that fact, I’ll stand here nonetheless,” Gaishon responded respectfully. Gaishon watched the gentleness with which the healer handled the women and the soft tone of his voice. He was very good at his job and very reassuring with the females.
“Speak to your Sirena. She will confirm that I can be trusted.”
“Doc?” the ship’s computer said.
“Yes, Missy. My title is Master Healer, not Doc, but please, go on,” the healer answered.
“Shall I advise Sirena Vivian that new females have arrived?”
Doc thought about it. “Perhaps it would be best,” he answered.
“Good. I have already advised her.”
No sooner had Missy confirmed that Vivian had been advised than multiple footsteps could be heard heading in their direction.
The louder, heavier footsteps stopped just before the examining room door, but a lighter, softer set proceeded all the way up to it, causing the doors to swoosh open. “May I enter,” Vivian asked.
Doc looked up, making eye contact with Vivian, then with his patient. “This is our Sirena Vivian. She was once in much the same situation you were. She makes it her priority to be available to any female we are able to free.”
Vivian repeated her request. “May I come in?” she asked softly.
The girl nodded her head, then voiced her approval. “Enter,” she said, none too weakly.
Vivian entered the room and came to a stop a respectful distance from the healer and the girl. She watched for a moment before looking over toward the boy. “Hello,” she said, offering him a blazing smile.
The boy watched her with wide eyes. He lifted his hand in a small wave.
Vivian turned to the girl, who was quietly answering questions asked of her by the healer.
“Hi, I’m Vivian. Welcome to our home.”
The girl looked up from watching the healer’s hands and instruments move over her body. “Thank you,” she answered, before going back to watching the readouts on the screen of the scanner moving slowly across her body.
“Gaishon, thank you for bringing them back here and watching over them while they are examined.”
“You are welcome, Sirena. There are two more resting in the next examination room,” Gaishon said, surprised that she’d take it upon herself to become involved with recently freed slaves.
“Where is Rokai?” she asked, looking around the room. “I didn’t see him when I entered medical.”
“I’m not sure. He had a delivery to make to his female when we first arrived. It was decided I’d watch over the females while they were examined, and the boy,” he added, indicating the boy still watching Vivian with wide eyes.
Vivian nodded her understanding. “Is there anything I can get you before I go meet the other women?”
“Food,” the female answered.
“I want my mom and dad,” the boy said softly.
Vivian looked at the boy. “Do you know your name? The planet you’re from?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered.
“Then we’ll see to it right away,” Vivian answered. Then she raised her voice. “Vor?!”
Heavy footsteps followed her call, then, a very large, intimidating male stepped into view. “Yes, Sirena?” he answered, his eyes glued to his Sirena.
“Could you please send for some food for them and for the two women in the next room?” Vivian asked.
“Yes, Sirena. Right away.”
Vor glanced at the boy, then the female under examination. He stopped moving, seemed to actually stop breathing. The female stared directly at him, and even among those not sharing their moment, time seemed to stand still.
Neither Vor, nor the female, seemed to be able to find their words.
“Vor?” Vivian asked. She got no response. It was as though the female and Vor were trapped in each other’s stares and could not look away. “Vor?!” Vivian said louder, raising her voice.
Vor seemed to snap out of whatever trance he’d been in, reluctantly turning his eyes toward Vivian.
“Food?” Vivian asked.
Vor just barely nodded before turning back to the female who was still staring at him. “You are safe here, female. No one will harm you. I will watch over you.”
Vor didn’t move until the female finally spoke. She licked her cracked, dried lips and very quietly answered. “Thank you.”
“I am Vor Kal Ha’ Son. You will never be harmed again,” Vor swore to her.
The female nodded her head one single time. “I am Li’Orani. Thank you for your protection, Warrior.”
Heavier footsteps could be heard thundering down the hallways of medical before the doors swooshed open, and Zha Quin stood there.
“Are these the females Rokai brought back?” he asked.
“Yes, and Gaishon. He helped,” Vivian said, indicating Gaishon standing beside the female and the healer, his blade having since been put away.
“Then perhaps you should be in a holding cell beside Rokai ahl!” Zha Quin snapped, glaring at Gaishon.
“For what?!” Vivian asked indignantly, stomping toward her mate.
“Vivi, you do not understand,” Zha Quin started.
“I understand that he brought back three women and this boy,” she answered, waving her hand in the direction of the boy behind her, quietly watching all the goings on.
Zha Quin just quietly watched his Ehlealah defend his brother, not a doubt in her mind that he’d acted appropriately. When finally she sto
pped talking, he repeated his statement. “You do not understand the conditions surrounding their arrival here.”
Vivian opened her mouth to answer, but the female, Li’Orani, beat her to it.
“I do. I was there, and I certainly understand every condition you refer to. You should release him at once. He was our savior!” she stated emphatically.
The boy slid off the table he sat on, his feet making hushed noises when they hit the metallic floor. “He was. He killed the bad ones and brought us all with him when he left there.”
“I understand that,” Zha Quin said, trying to calm rising passions. “It is in the way he killed the males that is the problem,” Quin tried tactfully to explain.
Li’Orani gently pushed the healer away from her so that she could stand and face Sire Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok. “Sire, the only issue with the way he killed those males is that he did it too quickly. They should have been tied to the rape benches, as we were. They should have been raped repeatedly with anything capable of causing the greatest pain. They should have been branded, whipped and tortured to the point of unconsciousness, then roused and tortured again. Just as we were. They should have been kept alive for the sole purpose of enduring more pain every single day of their miserable lives. Death was a kindness I would not have afforded them.”
Vor had moved closer to the female, a low rumble in his chest, his teeth elongating, his horns enlarging, his size noticeably larger — his Psi was engaging.
Another male had stepped into the doorway and was listening, watching with tears in his eyes. “Li’Orani?”
Li’Orani glanced from Sire Zha Quin Tha to the male standing in the doorway. “Kron?” she said, her voice cracking, showing the first indication of any emotion at all other than anger and an enormous amount of strength.
“Li!” Kron said, rushing into the examination room and toward Li’Orani.
Vor moved more quickly than anyone anticipated, inserting himself between Li’Orani and Kron. He let out a deeply snarled warning and reached out, lightning fast, wrapping his hand around Kron’s throat.
“Miiinnnne,” Vor rumbled at Kron.
Kron’s hand came up and wrapped around Vor’s wrist, preparing to fight him if necessary to get to Li’Orani.
But a small, female hand, still dirty and bloodstained from her ordeal, rested on Kron’s fingers where they gripped Vor’s wrist, before they had time to engage. “It’s okay, Warrior Vor, Kron is my brother.”
Vor looked down at Li’Orani, then at Kron, struggling to override the instinct that told him to keep all males away from his Ehlealah.
“My sister,” Kron repeated.
Reluctantly Vor moved back and allowed the two siblings to embrace.
“We thought you dead,” Kron said, his voice rough with emotion.
“I thought I was. I prayed to be many, many times.”
Kron stepped back and held her at arm’s length. “We never stopped looking.”
Li’Orani nodded. “I knew you would never stop.”
“Never,” Kron said, pulling her in for another hug.
Vor simply watched over his Ehlealah holding tightly to her brother, a steady rumble of irritation vibrating his chest.
Vivian smiled dreamily, while leaning against her still very tense, very intimidating mate. “Everyone is finding their Ehlealahs! It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
Zha Quin glanced down at Vivi, one eyebrow raised. “That has yet to be seen.”
Vivian scowled at him. “Was it wonderful when you found me?”
“Of course it was,” Quin said.
“Then it’s wonderful for them, too.”
“We shall have to rearrange the schedules until the females are all claimed; otherwise, we will be under-staffed.”
“We’ve managed perfectly fine with Kol seeing to his duties and to his as-of-yet unclaimed Ehlealah as well.”
“It will take planning, Vivi.”
“Then plan it. And smile. A fierce warrior is even doubly fierce when he is defending a world his Ehlealah lives in.”
Zha Quin considered her words. She was right. And he was happy for his males, finding their mates. He just knew that each identified, yet unclaimed Ehlealah meant unrest and unfocus until the mating was final. And unfocused warriors could cause mistakes. Quin watched Vor struggling to allow his female’s own brother near her, and at the same time glancing between Vivi and his Ehlealah. “Vor!”
Vor came to attention at once. “Yes, Sire!”
“Which warrior will cover your duties to our Sirena while you are otherwise occupied?”
“I will, Sire!” Vor answered. At the same time his eyes wandered over to watch Li’Orani and Kron.
“Vor. It is completely understandable. You will perform your duties when able, but until you are once again settled, you will need to name a warrior to stand in your place.”
Vor looked from Vivi to Li’Orani, clearly torn.
“I vote Zahn! He’s got absolutely no sense of humor, likes no one, and has more free time than anyone else because he purposely avoids all the females. He’ll gladly step up, then resume his regular position when you are ready to be full time again. Right?” Vivian asked, looking to Vor for confirmation.
“Perhaps,” Vor acknowledged.
“Excellent, then it is done,” Quin announced. He leaned over and kissed Vivian’s head. “I love you, my Ehlealah.”
“I love you, too. Quit being grumbly.”
“I shall try.” Quin looked around the room, his eyes falling on Gaishon. “Gaishon!”
“Yes, Commander, Sire, Commander…” Gaishon looked at Vivian and gave a half shrug at his unsurity of how to address Zha Quin.
“While I do not totally agree with it, the United Consortium Defense has issued orders that you and Rokai are to be incarcerated.”
“It is not surprising,” Gaishon answered. “Though, if they took time to investigate…”
“I am taking the time to investigate. I am complying with their first mandate. The others I shall address individually, but I give you my word, neither of you will be turned over to any other authority at any time. You will stay on this ship. That is not negotiable. The rest we’ll determine as we go.”
Gaishon nodded, put his shoulders back as though he stood at attention. “Thank you…” he paused, still not sure what the difference between Sire and Commander was.
Zha Quin took pity on the male. He was obviously trying to do the right thing and follow protocol. “Commander,” Zha Quin said. “Sire if you are Cruestaci or have sworn allegiance to the Cruestaci during your commitment ceremony to our military.”
Gaishon smiled. “Thank you, Commander.”
“Do I need to have you escorted to the holding cells below deck?” Quin asked Gaishon.
“No, sir. I will report there immediately.”
“I will send word you are on your way and are to be treated respectfully.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
Zha Quin spun on his heel to exit the room and return to the Command Deck, but he paused, looking over his shoulder again. “Master Healer?””
“Yes, Sire,” Doc answered.
“It is good that you are back. Do not ever send that…” Quin paused, looking for the right description.
“Insensitive prick,” Vivian supplied.
Quin squinted his eyes and tilted his head slightly as he considered it. “It is accurate. Do not send him here again in your absence. It was suggested that I eject him through the airlocks as we traveled through unmanned space.”
“Noted,” Doc answered. “And my apologies for his lack of compassion.”
Zha Quin, all his business handled, spun and left the room.
“Welcome home!” Vivian said over-joyously, spreading her hands out wide to Doc.
Doc smiled at her, then feigned irritation. He couldn’t possibly admit that he was growing fond of their Sirena.
Chapter 27
Kol rushed into the commissary just
as Cook and his employees finished cleaning the blood from the table and the floor around it.
“Where are the females?” he shouted as he ran toward the table.
“They left. I assume to their quarters to clean themselves up. Severed heads and hearts make quite a splatter when dumped onto a dining table,” Cook said, looking at the table again to be sure he left no blood behind.
Kol looked around the commissary, just to be sure Ada Jane was not there.
“Were they escorted?” Kol asked.
“Not exactly. But the one they call Synclare, she seemed to get them all calmed down and moving. She is a quiet one, but a smart one I think — a steady one.”
Kol turned and ran out of the commissary, hurrying to find and get to Ada Jane.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rokai ahl sat on the floor of his cell, waiting for whatever happened next. Gaishon in the cell with him.
“I still cannot believe you delivered yourself for incarceration without even an escort,” Rokai said to Gaishon.
“Commander Tel Mo’ Kok explained everything to me. I gave my word.”
“I would not have come,” Rokai said, more in general just to say it, not to actually direct it to Gaishon.
“I am not you,” Gaishon answered, crossing his ankles where he reclined on the bunk.
A hmph was all Rokai bothered to give as an answer. He stretched his legs before him and sighed. There wasn’t much he could do at this point, so he decided that rather than make himself crazy trying to control something he couldn’t. He’d just wait to see what fate brought him next.
Turns out, fate brought him a curvy, Latina girl with a teardrop shaped tattoo just below her eye.
“Rokai,” a soft voice said.
Rokai’s head snapped up. “Rosalita!” he rushed out, getting to his feet.
Rosie smiled. He always pronounced her name perfectly, with just the right amount of inflection on each syllable and each rolled ‘R’.
“Are you alright?” she asked, looking around the cell he was held in, the dried blood still staining his clothes and his skin.
“Hello, Gaishon,” she added.
Gaishon inclined his head, offering her a gentle smile. “Roshleetah,” he said, not pronouncing it nearly as well as Rokai did.
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