Merker's Outpost

by I. Christie

  Harriet could feel a knot form in her stomach.

  "Alan must not know that we are still in contact. He has hired someone to test the ethers and this person will know and locate us both. It will only make things worse for you." Sharon touched Harriet with her second finger at a spot near her left ear. "That is my gift to you, my Love. May your journey on the path of enlightenment bring you profound joy."

  Chapter 21

  Harriet's eyes fluttered open as her other senses stretched out to identify her environment and gauge its security to her. The lights in the room started at a soft glow then moved up two degrees. Sitting up she wiped the tears that were leaving tracks into her hairline. Taking a deep breath, she released it and could feel the ache in her heart lessen.

  She knew about my Dancer. So…after all this time…all that we have experienced separate…we are still bonded. Amazing. I knew that.

  Harriet could feel her anxiety level raise at the possibility that Zohra was not aware of this on a conscious level; after all, she had been in covert operations for so long and just maybe…

  We're merely on the same planet; it doesn't mean anything…yet, the touches from the captain and the dreams she was having suggested she was kidding herself. Was her Dancer having them too? No, she was probably busy trying to get rid of the Spartan programming and reconnecting with her sisters…and maybe with an old friend, the one she had been with at the Academy. The older cadet she had been seeing seemed like the type that would not part with her prize easily.

  Harriet was aware that she was telling herself this just in case her Dancer was not ready to reconnect. Sooner or later, she was going to have to ask Zohra about the Dance and their involvement to see if they both were on the same…path?

  I need a shower and one of Ald's back rubs. A poor substitute from what she had lately been treated to. Well, it was nice while I had it.

  "Good morning, Guardian," Harriet started her day.

  "Good morning Lady Alexandra."

  Harriet laughed. "It will take a while for me to get use to hearing someone call me by that name again. So, what's the news of the day? Have I missed something planet shaking?"

  "Very planet shaking…the Vine's forces have secured New Century City. However, they are still looking for the alowan and any others that may suddenly appear. They have moved to Mi City. The prisoners captured so far, have been moved off planet for questioning and safer keeping, just in case something does happen to the city and everyone will have to evacuate quickly. The war forum that is in place until the new governing body has been elected and renamed, has assigned the Sisters of the Shield to protect the Lair. And, your captain has been promoted to major of the security forces here."

  "My?" Her eyebrow rose for a moment. "Major, huh? What a big headache," she reflected, glad it was not her command. "Well, until I get my orders from the Rear Admiral, I'll try and keep out of the way." That's a relief. She'll be too busy to…well… this is a laugh. I'm going to have all this time to do nothing but think about us and what if…and she will be too busy to think about anything but protecting this place against Alan's arrival. This bonding thing is going to be on hold forever it seems.

  She retracted the bed and began her chi gung and then Tai Chi exercises. From there she moved to work on the moves Zohra had introduced her and Carol to. The small holographic fighter that she had working with her was nimble and short, giving her a challenge. Finally she closed the session, feeling pleased with her workout. Chuckling to herself, she thought that the next encounter she had with the bad guys, she would be leaving them in the dust. The bathing door slid open as she neared it, and steam rolled toward her, as well as a rush of cold crisp air. It was as if the open door was sucking it towards her. Harriet held her breath as her mind tried to work out the difference between this scene and the one in her dream.

  All right…no mental alarms…the door opened like it should…the butler is handing me a robe…she sniffed the herbal scent that was hanging in the thick moist clouds. The steam was so thick she could not see past the first sink.

  A whoop followed by women's laughter reminded her that she shared bathing facilities with Carol-Maa. Harriet closed her eyes for a moment, at the thought that she would no longer have Carol's companionship to herself. The slap of a hand on the water followed by laugher had her embarrassed at listening to what she was not present for. Opening her eyes, the sounds receded. Sighing she headed for the shower.

  "Lady Alexandra! Come and join us!" Carol's voice called her through the clouds of steam.

  Harriet paused, torn between wanting solitude and curious to see who was with Carol. Moving through the warm and moist steam cloud, she found herself standing near the lip of the tub with the origin of the steam rising from the bubbling tub and the air temperature dropping to freezing above the bathers. Her skin tightened from the cold.

  All conversation stopped as she appeared out of the mist. Her heart quickened when she saw Zohra sitting in front of Carol getting a massage. She looked away confused at whether she was unsettled with Carol or Zohra. Were they now lovers? Her eyes moved to study the other three women whom she was not familiar with. The two Alterian's were sitting intimately close as a couple would. Both were watching her with curious gray eyes, their dark iris centers wide open as they studied her. Harriet moved her eyes to look at the third women and was met with a hostile if not resentful look. The colors whirling around her were decidedly not friendly.

  Sgt. Vanster, Major Zohra's partner. She flushed when she realized she was relieved that the Major and Vanster were not sitting as lovers.

  The alterian nearest to Vanster waved to a space that was on the other side of her lover and directly across from Major Zohra. Zohra was moving to sit at a comfortable distance beside Carol, which Harriet could not help but feel pleased that there seemed to be no relationship there also. Harriet stepped onto the first step and found the water a little hotter than usual. While she waited for her body to adjust, she looked towards Carol-Maa who was watching her with a mischievous smile.

  "Well…since Mistress Jina Gari, oops, I mean the major, or Carol-Maa are being slow to do the introductions, my name is Galdin," the alterian nearest her introduced with a smile. "This is Clea, my lifemate, and that's Megan," she indicated Vanster. "I would like to thank you for sharing your tub. Ours is filled with too many wild women to carry on any type of conversation below a yell..."

  "And then there is the countless interruptions a major suffers through. Especially our JG who has picked up a reputation for…hmmm…being a disciplinarian and everyone that likes that kind of stuff, is looking to be disciplined," Clea added with a mischievous grin tossed toward Zohra who gave no indication of how the comment affected her.

  "I'm Alexandra Montran. I am pleased to share your companionship in our tub," Harriet returned the smile and nodded to the other two women before lowering herself onto the second step.

  She had quickly decided on the informal introduction of first name and clan, thus creating no social or military rank. Since Montran was titled and from an old clan for her to merely introduce herself with her first name would have been a social insult to those in her company, indicating she did not wish to share that part of herself with them.

  Turning to Zohra her eyes were captured in the dark orbs that were watching her. She resisted the impulse to spend more time staring into the dark pools.

  "Congratulations on your promotion, Major."

  A small smile curled at edges of her lips, but she said nothing.

  So, that is your usual self. Few words shared. Your troops must love your briefings, Montran thought. "Good morning Carol-Maa, atmosphere?" she asked Carol-Maa as she breathed in the heat.

  "It is warmer than what I am use to, but our guests were reminiscing about their visits to the hot springs on a planet far from here. I was homesick for my water and this seemed to be a nice way to take care of what we all missed."

  "Which brings us back to the conversation we were havi
ng," Vanster interjected.

  "Ahh, yes. This House of Aphrodite," Carol-Maa nodded. "I am not clear on my Host's explanation of this Cave ritual you were alluding to," Maa said referring to Carol.

  Alexandra laughed with the others, her face turning red at wondering what Carol had shown MaaSaa in her mind.

  "Galdin worked there for about seven years, she could probably tell you about it better than I." Vanster gave her a wicked look.

  Galdin made a face at her and started in a monotone, as if a bored moderator. "The Cave is a level below the Dungeon. It is by invitation; whereas, the Dungeon is for the casual customer to experience the dominatrix world. The Cave has its regular members with a few special women and two men, presiding over the membership." Galdin nodded to JG, her voice changing as she began to warm to the explanation. "For many years Mistress Jina Gari was a favorite when she was in town. Later Megan became a mistress, and mischief was afoot," she smirked. "But, that was after she passed the sub test under the lash and tribulations, Mistress JG was obligated to put her through. It was quite fun, because it was the day we picked to celebrate JG's promotion to Captain in the Athenian Shield Maiden's Guild. It was only the three of us that knew what we were celebrating…but it went on for… what …two or three days and nights?"

  "Ooooohh yeah, baby, beat me, tie me up and spank me! That was a hell of a celebration!" Megan grinned.

  They all laughed. Everyone imaged their own version of the major dominating Megan or anyone else for three days. Unabashedly, Alexandra easily pictured Zohra in a dark bodysuit, paddle in hand, circling her victim slowly…drawing out the victim's passion with every little bit of a sting…Alexandra shifted her position in the tub to change her focus of thought.

  "I think the manager of the House will be soliciting JG to put in appearances to keep up her business," Galdin teased.

  JG is it?

  Alexandra watched Major Zohra wave her hand in indifference. "Doms are a common find on Sesstra IV, Galdin."

  Clea leaned across her lover and remarked to Vanster. "I hear you were getting your own following, you heart breaker," she teased.

  "I had a reputation to keep up. But I do miss that one number that called herself, Niki. She had a nice scream when she came." Then Megan Vanster gave a good imitation of it. The others oohhed and made the appropriate noises while Alexandra concentrated on Zohra's reactions.

  "Oh, that all important tradition that Mistress JG over there had started. Bloody moon! It's a pity those men in your group weren't very good, otherwise Claire would have paid to have the troop visit on slow weeks," Galdin grinned. "When you two hit town, there was not enough room in the Cave to accommodate all those that wanted to be subs, slaves and voyeurs," she mocked. "The other mistresses went on vacation, except a few that wanted to experience the whip under the Dark Mistress."

  "Right. You mock, but if no one has told Claire of our whereabouts, I'm sure she has agents looking for us, contract in hand, for us to visit on a regular basis," Megan told her with a smug look.

  "Hmmm. My Host has interesting experiences in that sort of sensual play. Perhaps we shall do some more experiencing," Carol-Maa told the others.

  Smiles were passed between the others, and then there was silence as everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and their thoughts.

  Alexandra was hoping Carol-Maa was not referring to anything recent in her history. The conversation resumed but Alexandra felt and heard a pop inside her head, quickly followed by a feeling of heightened sensitivity with everyone in the water. She slowly breathed in as she realized she had somehow established a link with the group.

  Water intensifies connection with those in its environment! Gedaliaha reminded me just…yesterday.

  She could feel the sensuousness the two women next to her were feeling for each other as they discreetly touched under the scented waters. It caused her own desire to make physical contact with Major Zohra, a compelling need. Carefully she breathed in as she could feel the fire the couple shared move into her already hot body. Alexandra concentrated instead on the water that was alive and its essence enhanced by all those in its fluid. Like a moth to a flame her attention moved to Major Zohra, where she picked up edginess.

  Was it because of the discussion of her role in the Cave? Did it bring back memories of someone who was special? Vanster…was her slave for a while. No, it's not that type of edginess…does she feel my intrusion?

  Major Zohra's emotions shifted as Alexandra tried to drop the link. She was fearful the major would think she initiated the intrusion. As a way to break the connection she shifted her eyes back to Vanster, where dark brown eyes were staring at her openly antagonistic. Did she know that she had touched them without their conscious permission?

  "So, you're the legendary…Captain Montran," Vanster's voice sounded churlish and challenging.

  "Legendary?" Her heart skipped a beat as her defenses went up and she shifted to another level of awareness. There's more to this than what she is saying.

  Colors whirling around Vanster were changing to a dangerous off shade of red with tinges of a dirty brown and the off green color of …envy? Why was she envious of her?

  "It's rather 'heroic' with you being the only one that came back," she returned sounding more petulant.

  Alexandra locked eyes with Vanster as her temper rose. It was something that was not open to discussion and if Vanster really was interested, she could look at the official documents, which for all she knew were languishing on some official's desk waiting to be investigated for misappropriation of military personnel for private use and unethical behavior of a Committee member in satisfying a personal vendetta. She was not going to have her past challenged by the likes of anyone in this tub, least of all, by Vanster if they did not take the time to investigate their charges before making them.

  "Do tell. And what is your expertise to make such a comment, rumors perpetuated by Lord Chaney, your master?"

  Vanster flinched and broke eye contact, not so much from what was said but the pressure that rose against her. She suspected it was from the two women sitting next to her. It irritated her that they would even defend this pariah of respectable societies. She was just another lazy leech of upper society. Wherever she had run off to she should have stayed there. For a moment she remembered that Lord Chaney was the reason she was back in Committee space, but that was a mere detail easily ignored.

  "Lt. Vanster," Major Zohra's voice was low, with menace, "confine yourself to your quarters and wait for my return."

  Vanster glared at JG for interrupting her 'game.' They were not on duty and 'she' was no longer their assignment. She held her breath for a moment, wondering just what got JG so pissed. She was taking her promotion too seriously, she thought.

  The emotions in the water intensified and Alexandra shifted uncomfortably.

  Then Vanster rose from the water in a smooth motion, pulling herself out of the tub. She headed to the door to Carol-Maas quarters ignoring the towel the bot held for her.

  Helgas Moon, I gotta get out of this water. Alexandra looked toward Major Zohra, worried.

  "I apologize, Lt. Montran. That is a breech of the sisterhood's standards of conduct and is not tolerated," Major Zohra explained embarrassed, both for Lady Alexandra and the sisterhood. What the bloody moon is going on with Megan!?

  Alexandra looked up as Zohra rose in the water as if to follow after Vanster. Alexandra frowned. She would never leave a function after a disciplined soldier; it gave them too much power, like a misbehaving child.

  "Perhaps her Black Rose persona needs a reality check."

  The major gave Alexandra the barest of nods that she understood.

  "Would you mind if I asked, why you remained in the Degas troop when you realized that they were used as bait?" Galdin asked gently.

  The feeling in the room had changed dramatically after Megan Vanster left and Alexandra did not feel uncomfortable with the question.

  "I…still ask myself that question…gettin
g different answers." She closed her eyes to be back to the first day she stood before her troop, feeling the trepidation in the air as well as the open antagonism between the CO and the troop gathered in a sloppy formation. Opening her eyes, she ran the palm of her hand over the bubbling waters.

  "I remember our first introduction to each other. They were insolent and didn't care about anything. The condition of their barracks was…awful, to say nothing of the ill-fitting and dirty uniforms they were dressed in. Their equipment was…old and something I would expect a band of poor rebels to have." She took a deep breath and looked into Galdin's dark gray eyes. "When I realized what their purpose was…bait with no means of defense...I could not let that happen. It was not right."

  "You felt sorry for them?" Clea asked hesitantly.

  "Oh…no. By their personnel records they were not nice people. I felt they needed to know how to survive…beyond the military perspective. I wasn't quite so articulate at just what I wanted to do at the time…I learned that from them…and they learned from me. We taught each other how to live in the midst of brutality and imminent death, with dignity and with compassion. It took me five stan years to understand that and four to get over it."