by Erin Tate
Resane grimaced and nodded. “Yes, Joyce. Let me treat your pain and then I will help you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered the word and fell back against the wall. She didn’t have to be strong any longer. She got her way.
Now she just needed to figure out what the hell she was going to do with the information she won.
A slight sting jarred her, the pulse of the hypospray delivering a gentle flow of pain meds and the migraine slowly faded away to nothingness. “I wish they had these on Terra.” She sighed, the agony fleeing and leaving her with her heartache. She focused on Resane, on his concerned features as he crouched beside her. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” he nodded.
“Now, when are you going to help me?”
“Now,” he frowned. “Let’s get you on a biobed and I will run a scan.”
“No,” she shook her head. She’d already spent way too much time on one of those.
“It will tell me of your health and also inform me if there is an issue with your implant. It should have coded our written word into you mind by now.”
Should have.
Joyce barked out a laugh. “There are a lot of things that should have been done, huh?”
She climbed to her feet, ignoring Resane’s hand when he attempted to assist her. Too many things had gone wrong when she depended on a man. She didn’t need something else blowing up on her.
She padded toward the large biobed and climbed atop the smooth surface. The moment she reclined fully, the machinery molded to her body, cradling her while keeping her in place.
With the push of a single button, the Doshan machinery went into action, the rhythmic whir and gentle beep a lulling song to her rampaging mind. It would pause over a portion of her body and then move into action once again, quickly scanning her from head to toe.
The medical doors slid open, the whoosh rising above the bed’s sounds, but she didn’t move. She’d been through this more than once and Resane was like a nagging wife when it came to his tools. If she moved, the whole scan would have to begin again.
“How was she injured?” Kede. A voice she hadn’t wanted to hear again. At least not until she found out whether she belonged to the man like a damned dog. Or cow. Yes, she was more like cattle, wasn’t she? She wondered if she should moo at him.
Moo…ooo…ooo…
Joyce snorted, but kept herself in place. Now that Kede was with her, she didn’t want to do anything that’d lengthen her time in his presence.
So, yes to snorting and no to moving.
“Is she unable to breathe? Why is she in the biobed? Is she leaking again?” Kede fired the questions off so fast she didn’t think anyone could answer them just as quickly.
“Commander Tria,” Resane snapped out Kede’s title.
“Tria-se.” Of course the man corrected the chief medico. Well, corrected incorrectly.
“That is in question. In addition, Mistress Enner has requested my assistance and as a female, she is entitled to a medico’s treatment. You yourself declared all females shall be treated as a Doshan and while her race is still in question by those above us, it does not change your ship-wide decree. Do you agree?”
Wow, it was the most she’d ever heard him speak.
“Of course,” Kede snapped. “Now, what is—”
“I must ask you to leave, Commander Tria.”
“Excuse me?” The tone was deadly and Joyce was sure it sent quite a few people running when he trotted out that voice.
“You know Doshans cherish and protect our females, even from ourselves if necessary. That includes denying a male access to his female.”
Joyce growled and Resane quickly corrected himself. “Perceived female. I have an oath, not to this ship and not command, but to the planet itself, Kede.”
The last words implored and appealed to the commander and she held her breath as she waited for Kede’s response.
“You will tell me—”
“I will tell you what she allows me to reveal. Nothing more. She has been sorely used by our people, by you, and now I shall serve her.”
Silence descended and she prayed to God, the bright light and even tossed a few requests to hell and the darkness as well. She wanted Resane’s words to be true, ached for him to have the power to push behind his message.
“Joyce…” There was longing in his voice, even more lurked behind the words. She wouldn’t call them lies directly. More like lies by omission.
The rustle of fabric preceded Resane’s appearance, his white-clothed back filling her vision. “Joyce will speak with you when she is ready and not before. No further medical reports will be shared and decisions about her life are hers alone.”
“You’ll protect her then. Stand for her?” Kede’s words shot through the room. “Who do you think has kept them from chasing after her? Bombarding her with their suits? Who?”
“Do you think so little of your warriors that they’ll pounce on a female? That they’ll disregard your orders?” Resane moved away from her, but his rising anger was palpable. “You did not have to claim her to keep her safe, and yet you did. It would have been a simple process to mark her. You’ve stolen her rights as a Doshan female, Kede, and now they shall be returned. Issue your orders and protect the female in your care. Think of her, instead of yourself.”
Resane spun toward her and lines of stress and strain marred her features as he pressed buttons and focused on the screens before him. It wasn’t until the doors whooshed open and closed again that he spoke. “All will be well.”
“Will it?” She tried to smile, but she was sure it formed a pained grimace. With Kede’s appearance, the pain resurged, pumping through her blood.
“I hope so. By the bright light, I truly hope so.”
So did she.
Chapter Seventeen
Kede was reduced to watching Joyce through a vid screen. He kept an eye on her as she left medical after being treated for a my-grain which Resane assured him was non-lethal. He would not comment on his patient’s status except to tell Kede she would not die.
Oaths were taken when a warrior relinquished his blades to enter the healing arts. One such oath required a medico swear fealty to his patient and no other. The largest bending a medico may endure is revealing if a patient’s final darkness lingered.
It did not, so Kede was shown the door.
Now he stalked her as the Terrans called it. Kede saw it as caring for his harae and would not place any other label on his actions.
Labels. He shook his head and sighed. Labels caused so many problems. Labels and Doshan laws and Terran interference. It all came together to separate him from his harae and it strained his control. The warrior inside him wanted to hunt her and put down every male who dared to stare at her.
And yet he could not.
Joyce padded along the pathways, males stepping aside when she approached and lowering their gazes until she passed. She gifted a few lucky males with a small smile.
He had to remind himself he could not call a Kerosa over a smile. A smile his harae readily distributed.
Darkness dammit.
It had been a week since that smile was directed at him. Seven days of sleepless nights and distracted days. Something would have to bend or he would break.
Then no one would be safe.
A low tone alerted Kede to a visitor and he growled out a low order for entry. “Enter.”
The doors parted to reveal Hassee, his friend, dressed in his ceremonial robes worn when required to act as Doshan Ambassador rather than trusted warrior.
“Hassee,” he murmured. “Have a seat.”
The male strode forward, intent on a chair, but his gaze strayed to Kede’s screen, to Joyce working with Yare in the dining hall kitchen. That had Hassee changing direction and moving to the wall. His friend depressed a few buttons on the food crafter and then sought his seat. Hassee slid a small glass of amber liquid across his desk before finally sitting.
“You
should drink it in one swallow. The Terrans call it a shot. I am told it is necessary when one is faced with bad news.” His friend did exactly as described, tossing the liquid down his throat and then hissing. “Oh, damn the darkness that burns.”
Kede eyed the glass. “I do not think—”
“As highest ranking officer on the hunk of metal, I order its consumption.”
Now he glared at the male. “Your power extends to interplanetary relations and the accompanying military actions. You cannot order me to—”
“This is very much about interplanetary relations. Drink the whis-kee and stop the arguments.”
“Hassee.”
The ambassador, who always had a clear head, growled at him. “Drink the fekking thing, Kede.”
“Fekking?” He searched his mind for the definition, but came up with no answer.
“Perhaps that is not what was meant. She said…” Hassee shook his head. “No matter. Drink and then we will speak.”
He narrowed his eyes further, but did as his friend demanded. The crafter would not create something that would harm a Doshan. At worst, he swallowed something disgusting and then his friend would explain his sudden visit.
He lifted the glass and tipped it back, draining it in one swallow.
Then he did as Hassee and hissed with the burn. Inhaling made the feeling worse, the liquid feeling as if it stripped the flesh from his throat. He coughed, fighting for air as the glass tumbled from his fingers and thumped to the ground.
“What in the darkness, Hassee?”
“Now we have done the bonding, we must discuss matters surrounding Joyce Enner.”
“You nearly kill me and now is the time to discuss my harae?”
“She is not your harae, Kede.” His friend’s words were a shot to the heart, his truth slicing him with a sharpened blade. “Choices were removed from her and now those actions have repercussions. They must be discussed and then explained to Joyce. She deserves to know.”
Kede snorted. “You spoke with Resane.”
“That is not the point.”
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, noting the changes in his body that accompanied the drink. Relaxation filled his blood and he sunk into his chair. “I will not let her go, Hassee.”
“You cannot keep her. She is not a feral choli to be picked up and claimed, Kede. She has rights as both a Terran and a Doshan. In addition, that change has caused problems with not only our negotiations with them, but with the council as well. They want her, Kede.” He did not like the sound of Hassee’s words.
“Explain.”
“You have many problems, my friend. I do not know where to start.”
“The beginning, Hassee. Always start at the beginning and then we shall solve this problem together.” Kede straightened and propped his elbows on the table. “There has never been anything we could not accomplish.”
“This might not be solved so easily, Kede.”
“There is no glory in quitting.” Kede waved his hand at Hassee. “Speak your words and we will find a way out of this mess.”
“A mess you created.” His friend grunted and leaned forward. “You kidnapped Joyce from Terra.”
“I was there for a choosing,” he volleyed back.
“From a pool of pre-screened volunteers.”
Kede shrugged.
“You kidnapped a female, which means she was also not branded as part of the Planetary Collective. As such, she became property. For a Terran, it is illegal to own another as property. Then you bypassed the rules of mating and verbally claimed her without the agreement of the female or her House.”
“She was not Doshan at that point. If we considered her property, I did not violate that law.”
Hassee glared at him. “That may be the only law you did not break. At that time. For you then genetically modified her. This violates Terran law. Doshans have no rulings on the practice as it has never occurred before. However, you tried to claim her as a Doshan female. Without her agreement and with no family to rule over her,” his friend leaned back and rubbed his forehead, “you have fekked up, my friend.”
Kede tilted his head. “I do believe you mean fucked. Your pronunciation is incorrect.”
“I do not give a flying fek about pronunciation. I care that my friend will lose his harae before he had a chance to solidify his claim!”
Kede slumped. “What should I say, Hassee? I could not leave her behind. I could not help but claim her as my own. I could only keep her at my side as a possession and… I will not let her go.”
Hassee pinched the bridge of his nose. “She has not asked for a marking or planetary brand. She is houseless right now, Kede, and she doesn’t know to ask, and Resane is captured by Doshan laws. He cannot tell her for fear of influencing her decision. A male not of her House cannot advise her and she has no House to lean on.”
“An unprotected female may choose, but it is her responsibility to ask.” It was a bastard version of the law, but it kept Resane’s hands tied.
“She’s learning Doshan as fast as she is able, but has yet to work through the primary texts. She is a youngling still.”
Why had the world conspired against him? “Load the texts to her data pad, highlight the appropriate passages.”
“That seems like—”
“Interference, though I choose to view it as guided education. For now, it is what we can do. What else is hounding you, friend?”
“Terra wants her back regardless of her genetics and you’re being charged with kidnapping and enslavery. The council wants her, but I do not know of their intentions.” Hassee stared at Kede’s tabletop. “The male you challenged in the dining hall is no mere warrior, Kede.”
Kede nodded. He knew every crewmember. “Yes, he’s Councilman Riskz’s nephew. Have we discovered his whereabouts or how he came to have a flare? What about the young engineer Resane took as an assistant? That wasn’t a Doshan design.”
Hassee shook his head. “No. Nothing new. Both disappeared, but that does not mean we shall stop hunting.” His friend paused. “You should enlist security for assistance, Kede. It is what they were trained to do.”
He grimaced. “If I could trust them, I would. But someone got a crude flare to Ambassador Martins and she almost escaped with Joyce. It was not a Terran who assisted her in securing the device since there were no others on the ship nor had any come to the ship recently. A Doshan provided it to her and I do not know if I can trust my men, Hassee. You and Resane… there is no doubt of your loyalty. Not just as Houses aligned with Tria, but as fellow warriors and strong males.”
“Word has spread. Members of the council are on their way and I am not hearing good reports about the other Terran females in Doshan care, Kede. None have been harmed or altered, but now that males know of this possibility. That they can have a Doshan female who does not require their male remain on planet…” His friend stared at him. “The problems are coming to a head. We have the Terrans on one side and the council on the other. The Planetary Coalition is not far behind. Your only salvation lies in Joyce.”
Kede closed his eyes, shutting out the vision of Hassee and bringing Joyce to mind. “How?”
“You must convince her to accept you and she must be willing, Kede. Only then do you have the protection of your mating to keep Joyce from the council, the Terrans and the Collective. A male’s decision is absolute and a mate bond is unbreakable even by the most powerful in the Collective. It is the only way.”
Kede was afraid he’d say that.
Damn the darkness.
* * *
Joyce pasted yet another smile on her face, ignoring that no one returned her silent greeting. Each time she stepped from the room she had to remind herself that she wasn’t surrounded by Terrans. Doshans wouldn’t smile back and they sure as heck weren’t pretending they were happy.
Frowns. Frowns everywhere.
If it wasn’t a frown, it was pure terror.
Then again, she imagine
d that was due to Kede and his Kerosa thing.
Honor Challenge.
Over her.
She shook her head. Why fight—to the death—over a Terran turned slave, turned harae, turned Doshan, turned harae?
Her varying statuses and how quickly they’d changed gave her a headache.
At least a couple of things remained the same-ish. Like before, she padded toward the dining hall to help Yare. Later she had a learning session with Resane, and at some point she’d have official testing to determine her aptitude and position in Doshan society.
Almost thirty and she had to endure SAT testing. Again. Ugh. Well, the SATs plus eye exam. She’d never been assigned a job because of her eye color before. Weird. Then again, being suddenly Doshan was weird, too.
The dining hall panels slid wide and she strode through without hesitation, one destination in mind. As always, the conversation hushed as she passed, only to resurge the moment she left the vicinity.
Instead of snapping at them, reminding each male she was a Doshan like everyone else, she kept walking. Nothing good would come of arguing with the males.
She padded past another table of men, their attentions on their meals. How sad was it that she was relieved they hadn’t noticed her?
Very. Very, very sad.
Her steps quieted by the biopad, she continued on her path, winding around bolted down tables and randomly scattered chairs. She inwardly sighed as she tucked one to the side. Terran or Doshan, a male couldn’t put the seat back where they’d found it.
Even better, there was a half-eaten plate of food resting nearby.
Men. Blech.
Joyce leaned across the polished surface and snagged the nearly empty tray. She dragged it toward her and stood, gripping the metal in her hands. She turned, ready to resume her trek, and squeaked when she came face-to-chest with one of the ship’s males.