Change Horizons: Three Novellas

by Gun Brooke

  “What’s up?” Gemma peered down at the man on the stretcher.

  “Meet Tammas’s husband and Ilias’s father, Camol.” Ciel smiled through tears. “How’s that for amazing?”

  Gemma looked over at Camol and smiled. “Glad we found you. She was very concerned.” Then her eyes returned to Ciel. “And you’re such a softie.” She wiped an errant tear from Ciel’s eyelashes with her thumb. “That said, we need to get going. You all set?”

  “Yes, Doctor,” Camol said, now looking as if was ready to carry the old man entirely on his own.

  Ciel held her firm grasp of the stretcher. In her mind she could still hear the tenderness in Gemma’s voice as she called her a softie. Her feet moved automatically as they made their way back to the pass. So far they’d carried out their assignment with good results, but they still had a lot left to accomplish. They had to establish what poison was used and figure out how to evacuate the patients since they couldn’t cross the river like the trained soldiers had. Ciel certainly wasn’t looking forward to another swim in the cold, rapidly moving water.

  *

  Gemma stood outside the large habitat where the patients worst affected by the poison and exposure to the wilderness were cared for. She had worked nonstop since they returned from the caves, and so had Ciel and the other physicians. Several of the elderly had almost had kidney failure, but dialysis and herbal remedies that Gemma knew nothing about seemed to work instantly. Ciel had tried to explain about her dried roots, but all Gemma really cared to know about at this point was results.

  “Gemma?” Ciel showed up next to her and pushed a mug into her hands. Its mouthwatering smell was familiar. Of course. The miracle soup. “One of the marine privates is starting a campfire over there.” She pointed further to the southern side of the camp. “Since we don’t have habitats for everybody, we’ve moved them closer and set up a new perimeter.” Ciel made a funny face. “See, I’m even getting good at this military-speak.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. The closer they are, the better access if we need to assist them.”

  “How are we going to get them out of here?” Ciel gestured around them, indicating the refugees.

  “High-altitude airlift. All of them.”

  “Oh. Us too?”

  Gemma smiled over the rim of the mug. “You’re really not keen on going back into that river, are you?”

  “Gods of Gantharat. No!” Ciel shuddered. “Are you? You were the one hurt, not me.”

  “But you hated the cold water more than I did.”

  “True.”

  Gemma sipped her soup and, unless she was imagining things, she was feeling calm and reassured, and more at ease than she’d been in…months. This woman. This damn soup. Ciel. Not thinking about work or any other repercussions, she gently cupped Ciel’s cheek. “You’re such an amazing woman. So strong, so beautiful.”

  Closing her eyes for a moment, Ciel then opened them slowly and gazed down at her. She slid a hand up along Gemma’s arm and held her hand against her face. “I don’t know what makes you say this, since I feel I can’t compare even remotely to you.”

  “You must be joking.” Gemma smiled now, seeing the warmth in Ciel’s eyes reflected toward her as the distant campfire reflected in them. “You’re not the vain type, nor am I, but the way you carry yourself, how you deal with horrible situations…I’m in awe of you.”

  “Gemma. Am I reading too much into what you’re saying? If I am, please tell me now.” Ciel pressed her lips into Gemma’s palm. “I know the place and the situation aren’t ideal, but I’ve learned the hard way that if I wait for the right time, most likely I’ll lose my chance forever.”

  Gemma’s heart thundered, struggled against her ribs like a caged animal. Ciel’s eyes spoke of passion, desire, even, and—more? “What do you want to say?” Afraid to ask, but even more afraid to lose her own opportunities to find something more than work in store for her down the road, Gemma held her breath.

  “I need to know if you can see yourself caring more for me than an appreciated colleague. Do you find me attractive and worthwhile enough to keep seeing me after we get back to the capital?”

  Gemma dropped the mug, and what was left in it splashed on top of her boots. “Ciel.” She lifted her free hand and pushed it into Ciel’s hair, under her braid. To her amazement, Ciel was trembling and it dawned on her that Ciel was perhaps even more nervous or apprehensive than she was. And still so brave, speaking first of deeper feelings, and in the midst of a mission at that. “I can see that.” Gemma whispered against Ciel’s jawline, suddenly standing close together. “I can see us spending a lot of time together. Exploring Gantharat…and each other.” Her bold words, so unlike her and yet so deeply honest, made Ciel visibly shiver.

  “I want to show you the area I come from. I don’t have any relatives left after the occupation, but the scenery is beautiful.” Ciel wrapped her arms hard around Gemma. “As for exploring each other, I don’t want to sound pushy or presumptuous, but I’m not sure I can wait until we’re back in the capital.” Looking a little afraid, Ciel kissed Gemma’s lips gently.

  Suddenly so greedy, aching so very badly for the woman whose life she’d saved, only to have Ciel save her right back, Gemma parted her lips and deepened the kiss. She wasn’t even sure this was how Gantharians kissed, but judging from how she’d accidentally observed Kellen and Rae kiss, she had enough confidence to caress Ciel’s tongue with her own.

  Ciel’s response, which consisted of her lifting Gemma up to straddle her hips and then carry her to their small habitat behind the mobile infirmary, showed Gemma beyond a doubt what the deep kiss did to her.

  Inside the habitat, Ciel paused, putting Gemma down, but held her close. “This sure would seem like I was indeed presumptuous. My carrying you off like this.” She rubbed her neck, one arm still around Gemma’s waist. “Just stop me if this is too much, too soon.”

  “Not too much. Too soon?” Gemma tilted her head, caressing Ciel’s face with the back of her curled fingers. “I don’t think so. We’re mature women. We have a demanding job, both of us, that can take us away on dangerous assignments from one moment to the next. I think we would be smart to grab happiness with both hands when it comes our way.” Gemma rose on her toes and kissed Ciel again. “I want you.”

  “Gemma, oh, damn…” Ciel buried her face in Gemma’s hair. “I’ve tried to keep a professional distance, but being around you, and you’re such a passionate woman, no matter what you’re doing, it…it rubs off. I was so set on clenching my teeth and just getting along as best I could with the high-and-mighty SC physician—”

  “And another thing I love about you is how you pay the best compliments.” Gemma smiled.

  “Hush.” Ciel shook her head. “And there you were. Angry a lot. Passionate even more. And always with the patient as your main concern. Then your coworkers. Only after that did you put yourself. Last. Always last.”

  “So was that one of the reasons you started feeding me the magic soup?”

  “Yes. I made it my business to look after you, as you weren’t too good about doing that.”

  “You’re my protector, you mean?”

  Ciel pushed her hand under Gemma’s tunic. Her coverall was off her shoulders already, and she’d used the sleeves to tie the upper part around her hips while working in the main habitat. “So soft. Like silk.”

  Gemma moaned at the gentle touch, only to find herself echoed by Ciel. “I want your touch. I can’t wait.” Gemma was certain now her needs would be met and reciprocated. Ciel’s eyes burned with an ice-blue flame, and when she pushed her hands into Ciel’s coverall, she could feel the same heat radiating off her.

  “Tell me what you want. I’ll do anything you ask for.” Ciel gasped. “Anything.”

  Gemma nudged Ciel until she sat down on one of the cots. “You have to be really quiet, Ciel. These habitats have horrible insulation when it comes to sound. Can you be? Quiet?” She pushed the coverall off Ciel’
s shoulders. Beneath it, Ciel wore a gray tank top. It had to go.

  “I can be very quiet. I survived because of it.”

  Gemma vowed that she would make it clear to Ciel that she wanted to hear everything about her years in the prison camp, if Ciel was ready to share her history with her. Right now, what Ciel wanted was obvious. Gemma straddled Ciel’s legs again, kissing her lips and down her neck, and fondling her breasts. She promised herself that she’d take her time during her next opportunity, but now she knew, from how she felt and from how hungry Ciel seemed for her touch, that it was time.

  Pushing her hand into Ciel’s coverall, she cupped her and slid gentle fingers in between slick folds. “Oh, Gods of Gantharat,” Gemma said, moaning at the damp heat that met her there. Now that they finally had the situation with the refugees under control, Gemma was so overwhelmed by her desire for this woman.

  “Gemma…I have to…” She felt Ciel yank her own clothes down far enough to return the feverish touch. Soon, agile fingers played with her, not even bothering to tease.

  “Yes, like that. Like that.” Her movements became uneven, jerky, as she balanced on the edge of pleasure but just out of reach. Gemma sobbed in frustration. So like her to get too worked up.

  “Shh. Don’t worry. I have you,” Ciel whispered. “You’re so stunning, so hot against me. The release will be so sweet. Just trust me, henshes.”

  The Gantharian term of endearment was familiar, but Gemma had never thought anyone would ever say it to her. Especially not this amazing woman. “Henshes,” she said quietly, just under her breath. Darling.

  “You are.”

  The two words, uttered so without pretense or hesitation, made Gemma throw her head back and bite her tongue to keep from moaning too loudly as she climaxed in one long shudder after another.

  “Oh, Gemma.” Ciel’s voice broke.

  She nearly fell off Ciel’s lap backward, but righted herself and focused on what gave her lover pleasure. Lover.

  It seemed as if Ciel had barely managed to hold off her own orgasm since she convulsed within seconds after Gemma pushed her fingers inside her. Out of breath, Gemma could still appreciate the utter beauty before her as Ciel gave a muted cry and pressed her legs together around her hand.

  “Ciel,” Gemma murmured. “It’s actually a real word on Earth. One of the lesser-spoken languages in our time, but still around.”

  “What does it mean?” Ciel tipped them sideways so they could lie down together.

  “It’s a French word that means ‘heaven.’” Gemma nuzzled Ciel’s neck, reveling in the damp, wonderful-smelling skin. “So appropriate.”

  “How so?” Ciel pulled the blanket over them.

  “When you want to describe something truly and amazingly wonderful on Earth, you say it’s heavenly. Like our expression, ‘stars and skies.’”

  “Oh.” Ciel hid her face in Gemma’s hair again. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She hoped Ciel was all right. “Something wrong?”

  “Absolutely nothing.” Ciel moved and kissed Gemma’s lips gently. “Just a little…taken aback. It’s been a long time since I allowed…closeness.”

  “Same here.” Her words seemed to relax Ciel. “Let’s push these coveralls off. Um. And the boots?”

  Ciel laughed, a low, contagious chuckle that made Gemma join in.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t even let you take your boots off,” Gemma said, moaning as her cheeks warmed.

  “You know? I take that as a true compliment. You clearly find me very alluring.” Ciel smiled broadly, which transformed her serene face into a whole different kind of beauty.

  “I do. I’m falling in love with you, Ciel. So no wonder I find you alluring.”

  “That makes me very happy. I’m falling for you too. I’ve never heard it put quite like that, but it’s true nonetheless. I’ve fallen many times during this mission, in a manner of speaking, and the biggest fall I took for you.”

  “Well spoken.” Gemma helped Ciel by pushing off her boots and clothes. Being naked under the blankets with the tall blue-blooded woman she’d come to love very deeply reignited her passion. As she set out to explore every part of Ciel that brought her lover pleasure, Gemma knew no matter how long her assignment was meant to be, thanks to Ciel, Gantharat now felt like it could be her home.

  Epilogue

  Camol couldn’t let go of his wife. Tammas in turn couldn’t stop crying. Between them on the bed lay little Ilias, now a healthy, somewhat plumper baby, asleep and blissfully unaware of the drama.

  “I will come back later,” Ciel said, not wanting to intrude on the couple’s reunion.

  “No. Stay, please.” Tammas extended a hand. “I need to ask you about Camol’s arm, because he will downplay it if I ask him. I also want to know about the rescue. The nurses told me that large space vessels hoisted you up with…with ropes!” Her eyes were huge as she looked between Camol and Ciel.

  “They did,” Camol said. “Somehow they managed to get some signal up despite the interference from the bedrock, and soon long, thick ropes with the biggest cages you ever saw appeared.”

  “Cages?” Tammas looked shocked.

  “Not cages,” Ciel said, sending Camol an admonishing look. “Actually a sort of reinforced habitat with beds and medical equipment inside. Some of them had rows of chairs with belts. We were able to hoist twenty patients at a time with those.”

  “It sounds amazing. Thank the Gods for the Supreme Constellation for bringing such technology.”

  “Yes, some of the people from our camp would have died from the poison if—”

  “Poison?” Tammas sat up straight so fast, the baby began to stir. “What poison?”

  “Camol, you and I will have to discuss proper bedside manners,” Gemma said from the doorway. Her look was serious as she entered and Ciel’s heart twitched painfully. Now what?

  “What is he talking about, Dr. Meyer?” Tammas’s chin trembled and she clung to Camol with one hand and settled her baby by patting his bottom with the other.

  “It turned out that the Onotharians were slowly administering a poisonous substance in some of the camps. It seems that most of the poison was given to Onotharians who wouldn’t join in the fight on their side, so your husband received rather a lot. However, the Onotharian biological makeup made them less receptive unless they were old or weakened by illness and so on. Camol is a strong young man. After we started treating everyone in our care with dialysis for their kidneys and several liver-cleansing substances provided by Dr. O’Diarda, we realized that the effect of the poison was reversible for the most part.”

  “What does that mean?” Tammas asked.

  “It means Camol will live a productive, healthy life with you and your son.”

  “But?” Tammas asked.

  “I told you. She’s as stubborn as she’s strong.” Camol smiled faintly.

  “I think this type of poison can have other long-term effects. I wouldn’t recommend that you have any more children. Your DNA can be compromised when it comes to reproduction.” Gemma clenched her hands behind her back. Ciel could see from how the skin tightened around Gemma’s eyes how hard she found delivering such news to a young couple.

  “Oh! Oh.” Tammas hid her face against Camol’s chest. Then she took a deep breath and looked at them with huge eyes. “We have Ilias. We will simply love him all the more.”

  Ciel swallowed at the bravery of the young woman who had been incarcerated for most of her life, as had Camol. She watched Gemma exchange a few reassuring words with the pair before leaving them to enjoy their reunion.

  “You didn’t tell them everything, did you?” Ciel placed a gentle hand at Gemma’s lower back.

  “I just couldn’t.” Gemma stopped and faced her. “Soon they’ll start asking questions about Ilias, but as I don’t have any definite answer yet, I didn’t think it necessary to bring it up.”

  “And when they start asking if the poison could be transferred to
the baby via her milk?” Ciel’s stomach clenched at the thought.

  “By then hopefully we’ll know. We’ll also have to consider what the poison might have caused in utero.”

  Ciel knew that they had to factor in the risk that the poison could have traveled over to the fetus during the pregnancy.

  “Look who’s here.” Gemma tugged at her sleeve.

  Over by the nursing central stood Protector Kellen O’Dal and her spouse, Admiral Rae Jacelon. Surrounded by staff and patients, they smiled and talked briefly with everyone.

  Ciel had met the protector on several occasions, but she’d never encountered the admiral. To Ciel’s surprise, the protector and the admiral both embraced Gemma. Obviously the woman she’d come to love was a personal friend of the people who were closest to Prince Armeo.

  “And you know Ciel, right?” Gemma said, interrupting her reverie.

  “I do. Dr. O’Diarda was a well-known name and the source of much admiration during the dark years.” Kellen took Ciel’s hands between both of hers. “Many people owe you their lives, Druid.”

  “Thank you, Protector, but they don’t owe me anything except to live long and happily.”

  “I’m glad to finally meet the woman who first made Gemma foam at the mouth, only to then have her fall head over heels.”

  Gemma groaned and glared at the admiral. “Thank you, Rae.”

  “It’s my honor, Admiral…Protector?” Ciel hesitated.

  “I prefer ‘Admiral.’” Rae grinned at her wife.

  “Not sure what that saying about the heels means,” Kellen said, frowning slightly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in gala dress and high heels, Druid.”

  “Oh, but that would be a sight,” Gemma said, clearly now in on some secret joke. Ciel looked at her lover and honestly didn’t mind being the source of the teasing, as she loved the new spark in Gemma’s eyes. Whereas fatigue and exhaustion had recently weighed on Gemma, since they’d returned to the capital, Gemma seemed light and exuberant even though she’d worked night and day.